New study highlights sexual behavior and condom use in the U.S. among individuals ages 14 to 94

Findings from the largest nationally representative study of sexual and sexual-health behaviors ever fielded, conducted by Indiana University sexual health researchers, provides an updated and much needed snapshot of contemporary Americans' sexual behaviors, including a description of more than 40 combinations of sexual acts that people perform during sexual events, patterns of condom use by adolescents and adults, and the percentage of Americans participating in same-sex encounters.

The National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior (NSSHB) was conducted by researchers from the Center for Sexual Health Promotion (CSHP) in Indiana University's School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (HPER).

The NSSHB is one of the most comprehensive studies on these topics in almost two decades and documents the sexual experiences and condom-use behaviors of 5,865 adolescents and adults ages 14 to 94.

Initial findings from the survey, presented in nine separate research articles, were published on Oct. 1 in a special issue of The Journal of Sexual Medicine, a leading peer-reviewed journal in the area of urology and sexual health. The issue also includes commentaries offering perspectives on the study from leading U.S. sexual health authorities, including former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Joycelyn Elders, Dr. Kevin Fenton, Director of the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention at the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Lynn Barclay, President and CEO of the American Social Health Association.

"This survey is one of the most expansive nationally representative studies of sexual behavior and condom use ever conducted, given the 80-year span of ages," said Michael Reece, director of the Center for Sexual Health Promotion. "These data about sexual behaviors and condom use in contemporary America are critically needed by medical and public health professionals who are on the front lines addressing issues such as HIV, sexually transmissible infections and unintended pregnancy."

According to the study's findings, one of four acts of vaginal intercourse are condom protected in the U.S. (one in three among singles).

Condom Knowledge and Use - While knowledge of condoms is high, less than one-half of men and women reported that condoms protect against HIV. - Overall very few women and only about one-in-five men used a condom during their last sexual encounter. - Condom use is highest among younger women, women with more education, never married women and women living in urban areas, particularly in Nairobi. Condom use is rare among married women, women with no formal education, and women living in rural areas. - Male condom users are more likely to be younger, have some formal education, and be nonmarried. Men in rural areas are just as likely to use condoms as those in urban areas. - Men and women who report multiple sexual partners, payment for sex, or having had an STD were much more likely to use a condom than respondents who did not report these practices. - Less than one-half of non-married men used a condom with regular and non-regular partners at last sex, and just over one-half used a condom if it was sex for payment. - Between 1993 and 1998 there were significant increases in knowledge and use of condoms for both men and women. - Knowledge of where to buy a condom was significantly associated with condom use, particularly for men.