Millennial Student Embarrassment Toward Condom Purchase/Acquisition

Abstract

While adolescents seem aware of the need for condom use, sexual practices do not always reflectthis awareness. Recent research indicates that sexually active adolescents aged 15-24 acquire half of allnew sexually transmitted infections (STI’s). Often times, condoms are not used due to embarrassment. Assuch, the purpose of this research was to examine the attitude of embarrassment as it relates to condomuse, acquisition, and negotiation. Data were drawn from a sample of 278 college students at a midsizeduniversity in the Southeastern United States during the spring of 2016. The results of this study foundthat nearly twenty ve percent of the male sample (22.7%) and less than 20 percent (19.6%) of femalesreported using a condom all the time. There was a signi cant difference between males and females withfemales reporting greater overall condom embarrassment. Additionally, there were signi cant differencesbetween males and females related to condom acquisition. Given the efficacy of condom use in preventingmany sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) and unintended pregnancy, understanding potential barriersto their use is important if public health professionals are to reach the Healthy People 2020 goals relativeto condom use.