Condom Use in Heavy Drinking College Students: The Importance of Always Using Condoms |
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| Authors: | Heather E. Certain MD Brian J. Harahan PhD Elizabeth M. Saewyc PhD RN Michael F. Fleming MD MPH |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Hospital Medicine , Meriter Health Services , Madison, Wisconsin;2. Department of Population Health Sciences , University of Wisconsin , Madison, Wisconsin;3. University of British Columbia School of Nursing and Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics , Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada;4. Department of Family Medicine , University of Wisconsin , Madison, Wisconsin |
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| Abstract: | Abstract Objective: The authors examined whether alcohol use decreased condom use. Participants: The subjects were heavy-drinking students on 5 different college campuses. Methods: A face-to-face interview, administered between November of 2004 and February of 2007, gathered information about condom use, alcohol use, and other behaviors. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess predictors of condom use. Results: Of the 1715 participants, 64% reported that they did not always use condoms. Male students who drank heavily were less likely to always use condoms (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.61). Participants with more sexual partners used condoms less when drinking (AOR 1.93 for men, 1.45 for women). Conclusions: Many students do not use condoms consistently, especially those who drink heavily or have multiple sexual partners. Clinicians at student health need to encourage all students to use condoms every time they have intercourse. |
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| Keywords: | alcohol clinical medicine sexual health |
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