Patterns of Condom Acquisition by Condom-Using Men in the United States

Abstract

Condom-distribution programs have striven to make condoms more accessible to sexually active individuals, particularly adolescents and populations disproportionately affected by HIV and other STIs. Despite such programs, little is known about where condom-using men in the United States acquire their condoms. The purpose of this study was to document condom-access trends among a large sample of sexually active condom-using men in the United States. Data were collected from 1,832 men from all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia by using an Internet-based survey in which men provided details regarding the source of condoms that they had used within the past 30 days. Men reported acquiring their condoms from a variety of sources, including free condom-distribution programs (56.7%) and from venues where they had purchased condoms for themselves (75.7%). Bivariate analyses indicated that participants who reported using free condoms tended to be younger, self-identified as not heterosexual, or not currently in a monogamous relationship. Further, results indicated that those participants who accessed only free condoms did not differ from those who used only purchased condoms, indicating that perhaps efforts to make condoms more accessible through public health distribution campaigns are reaching a more general population of condom-using men than expected. Findings illustrate the importance of continuing free condom-distribution efforts but also suggest benefits of facilitating linkages between public health and a community's retail venues to increase access to the growing diversity of condoms in the marketplace.

Male Contraception: Research, New Methods, and Implications for Marginalized Populations

“…Although these methods are available, they are not accessible to all populations of men due to various structural barriers including access to a clinic in the case of vasectomy, financial limitations in relation to insurance coverage status, and knowledge transmission about contraceptive methods. Over the last 10 years, various programs have been implemented to provide free condoms to the male population; however, a recent study identified that only 17.9% of men of color report use of free condoms as compared with 82.1% of White men (Reece, Mark, Schick, Herbenick, & Dodge, 2010). Also, only 16.6% of men of color use self-purchased condoms.…”

Assessing and Mapping the Availability of the Female Condom in the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area

“…It is unclear whether these service sites are able to provide sustainable quantities of female condoms to those who may rely on them to do so. Also, it would be helpful to have studies that assess women’s patterns of condom acquisition since we found only one article on this subject and it was only for men in the United States [7]. …”

“…Additional studies are needed that assess the availability of the female condom among a variety of service providers since the hours of operation of health care facilities, where condoms may be provided for free, may not meet the needs of consumers. Also, consumers access condoms from a range of service providers including places where they are obtained for purchase (e.g., convenience stores) [7]. …”

Geographic Variation in Condom Availability and Accessibility

“…Accessibility was determined as an adequate supply (variety of choices) of condoms, accommodation as the number of condoms sold within each pack, affordability as the cost per unit, and physical acceptability was determined by where condoms were placed within the store [17,18]. Overall, condom accessibility has previously been noted to include experiencing barriers in purchasing condoms when condoms are sold behind the counter or in a locked cabinet, when there are fewer choices in style, and high prices [12,19]. Additionally, social norms likely further interrupt access to resources, which is highly relevant and identified as barriers to purchasing previously when considering condoms.…”