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pubmed:otherAbstract |
PIP: Women undergoing tubal sterilization are at risk of various sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) if they do not use a barrier method of contraception. The authors investigated the planned use of condoms for protection against STDs among 2782 women undergoing surgical sterilization during 1991-96 at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. The women were 18-50 years old (mean age, 30.3 years); 62% were Hispanic, 20% Black, and 17% White. 31% reported being unmarried, the mean level of educational attainment was 9.8 years, and 20% had a known risk factor for HIV. 646 of the women reported regular condom use during the 3 months before being sterilized, of whom 45% had no plans to continue their practice after becoming sterilized. 11% of the total sample therefore planned to stop using condoms once sterilized. Among Hispanic, White, and Black women, respectively, 55%, 36%, and 18% planned to stop condom use once sterilized. Also, among former condom users, 54% of married women and 21% of unmarried women planned to abandon condom use. Factors found through multiple regression analysis to be associated with future condom use were younger age, being Black, unmarried status, having previously had a STD, not having a steady sex partner, having a relatively higher number of previous sex partners, having ever used condoms to prevent disease, and lack of partner involvement in the decision to be sterilized. The planned future use of condoms among women undergoing sterilization increased steadily and significantly from 1991 to 1996, irrespective of age, marital status, or ethnic background.
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