Army Women's Reasons for Condom Use and Nonuse

doi:10.1016/j.whi.2008.01.004

Women's Health Issues

Volume 18, Issue 3, May–June 2008, Pages 174-180

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2008.01.004 Get rights and content

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine Army women's condom use patterns, reasons for condom use and nonuse, and what is liked about and problems associated with condom use.

Methods

Army women (n = 131) from military posts around the country were recruited. The women ranged in age from 18 to 68 years (M = 30.5, SD = 10.5). The sample was of mixed ethnicity. Questionnaires were distributed by the units and returned directly to the principal investigator. Participants completed a series of anonymous open- and closed-ended questions regarding their experiences with condoms. Closed-ended questions were analyzed with descriptive statistics and open-ended responses were content analyzed (McLaughlin & Marascuilo, 1990).

Conclusions

Regular condom use was low in this sample. The most often cited responses as to why women liked using condoms included peace of mind, protection, or ease of use. The most cited problems and subsequent disuse included irritation/inflammation, breakage, improper fit, or ruining the moment. Results differed by consistency of condom use. Regular users of condoms reported a lower percentage of problems using condoms.

Section snippets

Introduction and Background

The incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is pandemic in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2006a). More concerning is that rates of STIs are up to 7 times higher in military populations than civilian populations (McKee et al 1998, Sena et al 2000), making this an especially vulnerable group. Women constitute a special at risk population for STIs because they acquire them more easily than men and are often asymptomatic once infected (CDC, 2006b).

Design

A descriptive design was employed for this study. This study was a secondary aim from a larger study examining sexual health information needs among Army women (von Sadovszky & Ryan-Wenger, 2007). Based on the knowledge that reasons for condom use and disuse had not been studied previously in military women, specific questions related to condom use experiences were asked along with the information needs. Results of the condom use data are reported herein.

Sample

The sample for this study was 131 women

Relationships Between Major Demographic Variables and Consistency of Condom Use

Descriptive statistics for the major demographic variables are reported in Table 1. To examine regular condom use for vaginal sex by major demographic variables χ² tests were performed (Table 1). There were no relationships between regular condom use and age (χ2 (1, N = 127) = 3.4; p = .08), ethnicity (χ² (1, N = 131) = 2.1; p = .17), number of sexual partners (χ² (1, N = 102) = 0.0; p = 1), or history of STIs (χ² (1, N = 127) = .53; p = .52). Married or women in an on-going relationship were

Discussion

This is the first study to specifically examine the condom use reasons of military women such as why condoms were used or not used, what was liked about using condoms, and problems associated with their use. Relationships between regular condom use and various demographic variables were not in health-promoting directions. For example, individuals who were younger, had more sexual partners, or had a medical history of STIs were no more likely to use condoms than their counterparts in this study.

Conclusion

This study was a unique examination of reasons for condom use and nonuse among Army women. The reasons reported here were generated by the women themselves as opposed to being given forced-choice responses. Concerning in an age of pandemic STI rates is that regular condom use was low among women in this sample. In general, the majority of women reported positive reasons for using condoms; however, those reasons were not enough to sustain regular use. Important to individuals intersecting with

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Joanne Stevenson, PhD, RN, for her thoughtful and helpful comments in the development of this manuscript. This research was supported by Grant Number N02-007 from the TriService Nursing Research Program.

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¹: Victoria von Sadovszky, PhD, RN, is an Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing at The Ohio State University. Her research focus is the promotion of safer sexual practices in young women.

²: Nancy Ryan-Wenger, PhD, RN, CPNP, FAAN, is a Professor in the College of Nursing at The Ohio State University and the Director of Nursing Research at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

³: Sara Germann, MS, RN, is a Doctoral Student at The Ohio State University.

⁴: Megan Evans, BSN, RN, is a Nurse at The Ohio State University Medical Center.

⁵: Christine Fortney, MS, RN, is a Doctoral Candidate at The Ohio State University.

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ArticleArmy Women's Reasons for Condom Use and Nonuse

Purpose

Methods

Conclusions

Section snippets

Introduction and Background

Design

Sample

Relationships Between Major Demographic Variables and Consistency of Condom Use

Discussion

Conclusion

Acknowledgments

Journal of Adolescent Health

Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care

Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing

Commandos do not use condoms

International Journal of STD & AIDS

Knowledge and use of birth control methods in active duty Army enlisted medical trainees

Military Medicine

Understanding failure of condom use intention among adolescents

Journal of Adolescent Research

Contraceptive use—United States and territories, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2002, PDF Full Text

MMWR: Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report

Sexually transmitted disease surveillance, 2005

Women's health—Facts and stats

If the condom fits, wear it: a qualitative study of young African-American men

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Barriers to safer sex practices among African American college students

Journal of The National Medical Association

Predictors of condom use self-efficacy in an ethnically diverse university sample

Archives of Sexual Behavior

Article
Army Women's Reasons for Condom Use and Nonuse