Condom use in multi-partnered females

Abstract

Many women attending sexual health clinics have multiple partners, and determining factors associated with condom use may provide useful information for health promotion strategies. Demographic and sexual data were obtained from computerized records at the Sydney Sexual Health Centre from 1991 to 1999. Females with >2 partners were categorized according to their condom use in the last three months and compared using chi-squared (χ²) tests and logistic regression. Of the 2198 women identified, 22% did not use condoms, 28% reported consistent condom use and 50% inconsistent use. Variables independently associated with failure to use condoms included older age and being in a regular relationship. Women with more partners were more likely to use condoms. Students [odds ratio (OR)=0.7 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.5-0.9)] and those in employment [OR=0.7 (95% CI 0.5-0.9)] were more likely to use condoms than the unemployed. Focusing health promotion on multi-partnered women who fail to use condoms consistently may help in reducing sexually transmitted infections.