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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Refining self-reported condom use among young men at risk of HIV acquisition

Richard Crosby A B C I , Ralph J. DiClemente C D E F , William L. Yarber B G , Gregory Snow A and Adewale Troutman H
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, 121 Washington Avenue, Lexington, KY 40506, USA.

B Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention, Indiana University, 801 East 7th Street, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.

C Emory Center for AIDS Research, 1518 Clifton Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.

D Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1516 Clifton Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.

E Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Epidemiology, and Immunology, 2015 Uppergate Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.

F Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases, 1440 Clifton Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.

G Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University, 1025 East 7th Street, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.

H Louisville Metropolitan Health and Wellness, 400 East Gray Street, Louisville, KY 40202, USA.

I Corresponding author. Email: crosby@uky.edu

Sexual Health 4(3) 211-212 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH07039
Submitted: 14 June 2007  Accepted: 2 July 2007   Published: 23 August 2007

Abstract

This descriptive study evaluated the validity of self-reported condom use among young African American men. Thirty percent (n = 79) of the men reported consistent condom use. After accounting for late application and/or early removal of condoms, slippage, and breakage, 26 men remained classified as consistent users. Among the 79 men initially classified as consistent condom users, 695 sexual episodes were reported as ‘condom-protected;’ however, after correcting for user error, 29.6% of the sexual episodes were actually not protected. Studies assessing self-reported condom use among young African American men should assess user errors as well as frequency of condom use.


Acknowledgements

Support for this project was provided by a grant from NIMH (R21 MH066682–01A1) to the first author. We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the Clinic Director (Deborah Snow) and the clinic staff members.


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