The authors assessed the relationships of ethnicity, gender, previous condom use, and intended condom use to perceived attributes of the condom and the contraceptive pill in a multiethnic sample of 197 college students. Factors that appeared to underlie attitudes toward the condom and the Pill included prevention of health problems, peer acceptance, sexual pleasure and spontaneity, convenience, embarrassment, and effectiveness in preventing HIV and sexually transmitted diseases. African American participants viewed the condom more positively than did students from other ethnic groups and were more likely to use condoms than White participants were. The African Americans appeared to know less about the characteristics of the Pill and were less likely to use it than were the White respondents. Only 60% of the persons in the student sample had used condoms in the last 6 months, and less than one half definitely intended to use condoms in the next month. Those who had used a condom at their most recent intercourse and those who intended to use a condom in the next month viewed the condom more favorably than others did. Intended condom use was associated with a perception of oral contraceptives as a less convenient method of birth control.

PIP: A survey conducted among 196 sexually active students at three diverse US colleges indicated that attitudes about contraceptive use differed according to ethnicity, with Blacks more likely to be condom users than Whites. The study instrument was the Contraceptive Attributes Questionnaire-2 (CAQ-2), which focuses on condom and oral contraceptive (OC) use. The CAQ-2 is based on the assumption that the decision to use or not use a specific contraceptive method is a function of perceived value, importance, and likelihood. Although 90% of students reported ever-use of condoms, only 60% had used this method in the six months preceding the survey; 48% stated they intended to use condoms in the next month. Among the 83 Black students, however, these rates were 76%, 50%, and 61%, respectively. Black students were more concerned with peer acceptance than White students and believed more strongly in the importance of method convenience. Blacks were more likely than Whites to agree that condoms do not interfere with sexual pleasure. On the other hand, Black students--to a greater degree than Whites--viewed OCs as compromising sexual enjoyment. Overall, students who had used condoms at last intercourse more strongly agreed that this method is acceptable to peers, convenient, not embarrassing to use or discuss with a partner, does not interfere with sexual enjoyment, and is not linked to health concerns. The intent to use condoms in the next month was significantly associated with the belief condoms are a convenient method that does not interfere with sexual pleasure.