Young people's intentions and use of condoms: Qualitative findings from a longitudinal study

Abstract

Objective The main objective of this project was to explore some of the processes that facilitate and also hinder the consistent use of condoms among young people. Design A longitudinal design was used, recording young people's intentions to use condoms on the occasion of first intercourse with a new partner at round 1, followed by their 'actual' reported behaviours at round 2 (six to 10 months later). Setting Young people's clinics, youth clubs and youth advisory centres in the Southampton Community Health National Health Service (NHS) Trust in Southern England. Method One-to-one in-depth interviews at both round 1 and round 2. Results Twenty-two young men and women aged 16 to 19 were interviewed at both round 1 and round 2. The matching of intentions, expectations and behaviours revealed six patterns of condom use/non use, each with distinct cognitive and interactional characteristics. Conclusion Implications for those personnel and agencies responsible for promoting sexual health are introduced (subject to more generalisable research) and which are based on the attributes of 'successful' condom users.