Women's Use of Dual Methods of Sexual Self-Protection

ABSTRACT

In a sample of college women at two private universities, this study examined dual use of self-protective measures, i.e., simultaneous use of condoms for disease prevention and birth control pills for contraception. Those who were dual users of condoms and birth control pills were in newer relationships, were less committed to their current relationships, and perceived their partners as more likely to have HIV or other STDs, as compared to college women using condoms only, birth control pills only, or no method. Dual use was unrelated to personality or health and risk behavior. Rather, dual use reflected a pattern of sexual self-protection based on risk management associated with concerns about consequences of sexual activity, that is STDs and conception, and not with more distal factors.

KEYWORDS:

• Dual protection
• STDs/HIV
• condoms
• college women