Condom use in the context of romantic relationships: A study among university students from 12 universities in four Central and Eastern European countries

Abstract

Objective To investigate the extent to which romantic relationship status influences condom use during vaginal, oral and anal sex among students from 12 universities in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania and Slovakia.

Methods A pilot study of 880 students from the ongoing Student Life Cohort in Europe (SLiCE) study. Multiple logistic regression was conducted to establish the effect of romantic relationship status on condom use during vaginal, anal and oral sex in the previous 30 days, while adjusting for participants’ age, gender, use of alcohol and other drugs prior to sex, condom-carrying practices and number of sexual partners.

Results Of the total sample, 73.7% were currently engaged in a romantic relationship and their condom use during vaginal sex (p < 0.001), oral sex (p < 0.001) and anal sex (p = 0.003) was significantly associated with their romantic relationship status. Students who were not in a romantic relationship had the lowest odds of condom use. Use of alcohol or other drugs before sex was detrimental to condom use (odds ratio 0.5; p = 0.045) during vaginal sex. Condom use during vaginal and oral sex was lower among older students.

Conclusion The need to target university students with more pragmatic sexual health risk reduction interventions that accommodate the role of romantic relationships on behavioural choices is justified.

Chinese Abstract

摘要

目的：在捷克、匈牙利、立陶宛和斯洛伐克12个大学的大学生中调查恋爱关系状态如何影响阴道性交、口交和肛交时避孕套的使用。

方法：来自正在进行的欧洲学生生活队列研究(SLiCE)中的880名学生进行初步研究。使用多元回归分析对近30天前恋爱关系状态对阴道性交、口交和肛交使用避孕套的影响进行研究，同时根据受试者年龄、性别、性交前饮酒或用其它药物、避孕套佩戴和性伙伴数目做校正。

结果：在所有的样本中，73.7%已处于恋爱关系中，且他们在阴道性交(p < 0.001)、口交(p = 0.001)和肛交( p =0.003)时避孕套的使用与恋爱关系状态显著相关。未处于恋爱状态的大学生使用避孕套的几率最低。在性行为之前饮酒或其它药物后对阴道性交时避孕套的使用(OR=0.5；p = 0.045)产生不利影响。年龄稍长的学生阴道性交和口交时较少使用避孕套。

结论：应当针对大学生进行更实际的性健康风险教育，以调节恋爱关系在行为选择中的作用。

关键词

避孕套使用，恋爱关系，性，大学生

Keywords:

• Condom use
• Romantic relationships
• Sexuality
• University students

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors cordially thank all the members of the SLiCE research consortium, as well as the participating universities, for their fruitful cooperation.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

This work was supported by the Slovak Research and Development Agency [contract no. APVV-0253-11], and the Slovak Academy of Sciences [contract no. VEGA 1/1092/12].