Adolescents and condom use
A. Joffe
Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Md.
Increasing condom use among adolescents is an essential component of a
public health strategy aimed at decreasing rates of sexually transmitted
infections and the spread of human immunodeficiency virus infection. This
article reviews current data about the contraceptive and prophylactic
characteristics of condoms. Data about current levels of use among
adolescents and factors demonstrated to affect such use are also
summarized. Except where data are scanty or nonexistent, the research
studies are limited to those focusing primarily on adolescents and,
occasionally, college students. Based on these data, suggestions for
increasing condom use among adolescents are presented.
