Condoms, STDs, & Pregnancy :: essays research papers

During the 1980s, efforts increased to alert the public to the dangers of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), former(a) sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and unintended pregnancy, yet these problems pick up increased. Adolescents and new-made adults have been especially hard hit. Pregnancy and birth rates among juvenilers atomic number 18 at their highest levels in two decades. Research has demonstrated that consistent gum elastic victimisation up is an effective way to prevent the transmission of HIV and other STDs and in the prevention of pregnancy.Analyses of the Urban Institutes National accompany of Adolescent mannishs (NSAM) show that although most sexually experienced teenage males have pulmonary tuberculosisd rubbers at least once, many do not custom them consistently. Only 35 percent reported using a condom every time they had sex in the past year. But teenage males use condoms more than older custody, and between 1979 and 1988 reported condom use among m ale teenagers doubled. These patterns indicate that teenagers be a promising target universe of discourse for condom promotion efforts since they appear more ready than older men to change their behaviors. Unfortunately, condom use among offspring men appears to have plateaued since 1988. Comparisons of 1988 and 1991 NSAM data show no change in rates of use. Attitudes Related to purpose Condom use is higher among young men who worry more frequently about AIDS when the effects of other factors are held constant. betwixt 1988 and 1991, however, sexually experienced teenagers showed declines in the frequency with which they worried about AIDS, how sombre they thought AIDS was, and the likelihood they would get AIDS. These reductions were associated with lower levels of condom use. Male teenagers who think they will be embarrassed buying or using condoms, use them less consistently than those with higher embarrassment thresholds. If they think that the use of a condom will reduce the physical diversion associated with intercourse, they are even less likely to use condoms. Anticipated loss of pleasure is one of the strongest correlates of reduced condom use. Beliefs about male responsibility for interference method are also associated with condom use. Teenage males use condoms more often when they believe that men bear responsibility for initiating discussion of contraception with their female partners, refusing sexual intercourse if contraception is not used, helping to pay for the contraceptive pill, and assuming financial responsibility for any resulting children. Further work has shown that young mens views of their contraceptive responsibility are very much related to their beliefs about masculinity.