Sexual orientation, sexual behaviors, and pregnancy among American Indian adolescents

PURPOSE: A recent study found a disproportionate number of pregnancies among Euro-American lesbian and bisexual adolescents compared to heterosexual peers. American Indian adolescents have reported higher prevalence of gay/lesbian/bisexual orientations than Euro-Americans; do they also report higher prevalence of pregnancy? METHODS: The study assessed prevalence of teen pregnancy and related factors by sexual orientation among sexually experienced, reservation-based American Indian adolescent males (n = 2056) and females (n = 1693) who participated in a national school-based survey in 1991. Self-reported orientation was classified as heterosexual, gay/lesbian/bisexual, and "unsure" of orientation. RESULTS: Gay/bisexual males were more likely than other males to report early heterosexual intercourse (<14 years), more consistent contraception, and a higher prevalence of abuse and running away (p < 0.05 to p < 0.0001). Likewise, lesbian/bisexual females were more likely to report early onset of heterosexual intercourse, more frequent intercourse, and running away. Sexual or physical abuse did not vary by orientation for females. Prevalence of pregnancy also did not vary by orientation (males, 18.6% gay/bisexual vs. 10.4% "unsure" vs. 11.8% heterosexual; females, 25.0% lesbian/bisexual vs. 22.1% "unsure" vs. 21.9% heterosexual). For lesbian/bisexual females, no variables were significantly associated with pregnancy history; for "unsure" females, pregnancy was associated with contraceptive frequency and early onset of heterosexual activity. For heterosexual females, age, intercourse frequency, and physical abuse were associated. For gay/bisexual males, intercourse frequency, ineffective contraception, and physical abuse were associated with involvement in a pregnancy; for "unsure" and heterosexual males, most items except ineffective contraception were related to pregnancy involvement history. CONCLUSIONS: Although prevalence of pregnancy is similar, findings show group differences in associated risk factors by sexual orientation. Interventions to reduce pregnancy among American Indian adolescents should include assessment of sexual orientation and behavioral risk factors.     

Multiple sexual partners among U.S. adolescents and young adults

CONTEXT: Because many teenagers and young adults fail to use condoms correctly and consistently, the number of sexual partners they have is an important risk factor for sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. Identifying factors that are associated with having multiple partners can help in the design of disease interventions. METHODS: Data on 8,450 males and females aged 14-22 who participated in the 1992 Youth Risk Behavior Survey were used to examine the prevalence of and factors associated with young people's having multiple partners. RESULTS: In all, 63% of female respondents and 64% of males were sexually experienced. Among those who had had sex during the three months before the survey, 15% and 35%, respectively, had had two or more partners during that period. At each age, the majority of sexually experienced respondents had had more than one lifetime partner; between ages 14 and 21, the proportion who had had six or more rose from 8% to 31% among females and from 14% to 45% among males. In logistic regression analyses, alcohol use, illicit drug use and young age at first coitus were associated with increased odds that females had had two or more partners in the previous three months, and being married lowered the odds; black or Hispanic race or ethnicity, alcohol use and young age at first coitus increased the odds for males, and being married reduced the odds. As the number of reported alcohol-related behaviors increased, the adjusted proportion of respondents who had recently had multiple partners rose from 8% to 48% among females and from 23% to 61% among men. CONCLUSIONS: The strong association between alcohol use and having multiple sexual partners underscores the need to educate young people about the effects of alcohol on partner choice and the risk of infection with sexually transmitted diseases.     

Awareness of language in children who have reading difficulties: historical comparisons in a longitudinal study

The purpose of this study was to assess factors associated with the use of family planning at first sexual intercourse among young adults aged 15 to 24 in urban Ecuador. The study population consisted of 1443 young adults (494 females and 949 males) in the cities of Quito and Guayaquil, interviewed by the 1988 Ecuador Young Adult Reproductive Health Survey, who reported having experienced consensual sexual intercourse. Approximately 11% of females and 15% of males reported using contraception at first intercourse. Binary logistic regression was performed to assess jointly the effect of multiple factors on contraceptive use at first intercourse. The regression model was first run on the entire study population and then separately for males and females. In the overall population, the following variables were significantly related to using family planning at first sex: being male; being from Guayaquil; older age; father's completion of secondary school. Having lost one's virginity to a prostitute was significantly associated with non-use of family planning. Males were 3.6 times more likely than females to use family planning during their first sexual intercourse. For each year older a young adult was at first sex, his or her odds of using family planning was multiplied by a factor of 1.3. Twenty-eight per cent of males in this study experienced their first sexual intercourse with a prostitute, and these young men were highly unlikely to use family planning. A male who experienced first intercourse with his girlfriend was more than five times as likely to use contraception than a male who lost his virginity to a prostitute.     

Reproductive health in adolescent students: knowledge, attitudes, and behavior in both sexes, in a community of Santiago

Nine hundred forty eight teenagers (600 females) from a public school of one of the poorest communities of Santiago were surveyed about knowledge and practices on sexuality and reproductive health. Twenty four percent of females and 40% of males did not talk about their problems at home, instead they talked preferentially with their friends. Half of the sample attributed a risk a pregnancy to the first sexual intercourse; 67% did not know the infertile phase of the menstrual cycle and 20% did not identify two sexually transmitted diseases. Sixty percent considered rhythm technique as a safe fertility control method, 60% of males and 50% of females considered masturbation as risky, 57% of males and 49% of females estimated that condoms could be reused and between 5 and 16% of the sample correctly identified AIDS modes of transmission. Fifty percent had a couple and 23% of males and 17% of females had a sexual intercourse in the last six months; of these, 45% of women and 27% of men used a contraceptive method. Four percent of women and 6% of men became involved in a pregnancy and 57% of these terminated in abortions. It is concluded that knowledge about sexuality and reproductive biology among low income teenagers is scanty.     

Sexual behavior among U.S. high school students, 1990-1995

CONTEXT: High rates of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV infection, among adolescents are major public health concerns that have created interest in trends in teenage sexual activity. METHODS: Nationally representative data from Youth Risk Behavior Surveys conducted in 1990, 1991, 1993 and 1995 are used to examine levels of sexual experience, age at first intercourse, current sexual activity and condom use at last intercourse among students in grades 9-12. RESULTS: The proportion of students who reported being sexually experienced remained at 53-54% from 1990 through 1995, while the percentage of sexually active students who used condoms at last intercourse rose from 46% to 54% between 1991 and 1995. Black students were more likely than white students to report being sexually experienced, being currently sexually active and having had four or more lifetime sexual partners; black students also reported a significantly younger age at first intercourse. Gender differences in sexual behavior were found more frequently among black students than among white or Hispanic students. CONCLUSIONS: Although levels of sexual experience for high school students in the United States have not risen during the 1990s, a very high percentage of students continue to be at risk for unintended pregnancy and STDs, including HIV infection.     

The function of nitric oxide in the necrosis of avulsed skin flap in domestic pig]

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the prevalence of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) in a community sample of Australian women. DESIGN: Retrospective study, done in 1994, of cross-sectional data on the prevalence of CSA, collected as part of a larger two-stage case-control study of the possible relationship between CSA and alcohol abuse. Data were appropriately weighted to adjust for the different selection probabilities of cases and controls. PARTICIPANTS: 710 Women randomly selected from Australian federal electoral rolls. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-four women (20%) had experienced CSA. In 14 of these 144 women (10%), the abuse involved either vaginal or anal intercourse (i.e., 2% of the sample population experienced such abuse). The mean age at first episode of CSA was 10 years, and most (71%) of the women were aged under 12 years at the time. Perpetrators of the abuse were usually male (98%) and usually known to the child; 41% were relatives. The mean age of abusers was 34 years, with a median age difference of 24 years from that of the abused individual. Only 10% of CSA experiences were ever reported to the police, a doctor or a helping agency (e.g., community organisations, such as sexual assault services). CONCLUSION: The high rates of CSA (estimated to be 20% of all women) and low rates of reporting (10%) indicate the need for general practitioners and other health professionals to be aware that a history of such abuse may be common in women in the general population.     

Sexual behaviour in young people

A review of the literature from the United Kingdom reveals a progressive reduction in recent decades in the age at first intercourse, an increase in the prevalence of premarital sex to the point of near universality, and a convergence of the sexual behavior of males and females. Over the past 30 years, the median age at first intercourse in the UK has dropped from 16 to 14 years for females and from 15 to 13 years for males. Fewer than 1% of women 16-24 years of age had their first sexual experience within marriage compared with 40% of women 45-59 years old. These trends reflect biologic factors, including earlier age at menarche, and social factors such as liberalization of norms governing sex behavior and peer pressure. Age at first intercourse increases with educational level and social class status. Curiosity is the factor most commonly cited by males as motivating first intercourse, while females identify romantic reasons. Nearly half of young women and over half of young men who have intercourse before the age of 16 years have unprotected sex. Contraceptive use is more likely with casual than steady sex partners. The condom is the most widely used contraceptive method in the early stages of sexual experience, and its use is increasing as a result of awareness of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. More than two-thirds of young people consider themselves inadequately prepared at first intercourse in terms of information on sexual matters. Although the majority gain their information about sexuality from friends, schools are cited as a preferred source. The importance of sex education is confirmed by the positive association of predominantly school-based information and contraceptive use at first intercourse. There is no evidence that sex education hastens the onset of sexual activity.     

Risk behavior for HIV transmission among gay men surveyed in Seattle bars

Men attending four Seattle gay bars were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire including measures of sexual behavior, perceptions of peer norms in the area of sexual safety, personal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk estimate, and knowledge and use of a variety of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) prevention services. Twenty-nine percent of the sample reported engaging in unprotected anal intercourse at least once during the 2 months before the survey. Differences in peer norm perceptions, age, HIV risk estimate, and intent to be sexually safe in the future were found between those engaging in unprotected anal intercourse and those not reporting unprotected anal intercourse. No significant differences were found in level of education, use of AIDS prevention services, and whether or not a person had been tested for HIV. Implications for prevention programs are discussed.     

Heart failure and echocardiographic changes during long-term follow-up of patients with sick sinus syndrome randomized to single-chamber atrial or ventricular pacing

OBJECTIVE: In the present study, physical and sexual abuse among incarcerated youth were examined with respect to sexual activity, contraceptive use, and pregnancy. METHOD: The self-report survey data were collected from 62 females and 334 males who were incarcerated in Nevada youth correctional facilities in the summer of 1994. Of the males, 46.8% (n = 156) reported a history of physical abuse and 9.9% (n = 33) reported sexual abuse. A surprisingly high 73% (n = 46) of the females reported a history of physical abuse and 68.3% (n = 43) reported sexual abuse. RESULTS: The analyses indicated that females who reported a history of sexual abuse had an earlier mean age of first intercourse than those who reported no sexual abuse. In addition, male and female respondents with a history of physical and/or sexual abuse reported using no method of contraception as compared to youth with no history of abuse. CONCLUSIONS: Implications of these results for detention-based counseling and prevention programming are discussed.     

Sexual and reproductive health among primary and secondary school pupils in Mwanza, Tanzania: need for intervention

A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among 892 randomly selected pupils, aged 12 and above, attending 18 primary schools (PS) and five secondary schools (SS) in four communities of Mwanza Region in Tanzania. The goals were to assess the level of knowledge adolescents have about sexual and reproductive health (SRH), to assess the magnitude of SRH problems and to help design appropriate interventions. Median age of respondents was 15 years (range 12-20 years) and 14 years (range 12-19 years) for PS boys and girls, respectively, and 19 years (range 16-24 years) and 17 years (range 14-19 years) for SS boys and girls. Eighty per cent of PS boys and 68% of PS girls were already sexually active; the corresponding figures were 89% for SS boys and 48% for SS girls. Vaginal sex was the most common first sexual act reported by SS pupils, but 40% of PS pupils reported orogenital sex and 9% of PS pupils reported anal sex as their first sexual act. Almost half of PS girls have had sex with adults, including teachers and relatives. 'Forced sex' was reported by nearly half of PS and SS girls. Fourteen per cent of PS girls had already been pregnant, and over half of these pregnancies ended in illegally induced abortions. Despite a rather high (30%) lifetime rate of condom use, 33% and 25% of PS boys and girls, respectively, reported past experience of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). STD rates were lower among SS pupils who had a better knowledge of STDs/HIV and fertility issues and reported higher condom use. The survey demonstrated the great vulnerability of school-going adolescents of Mwanza Region to consequences of sexual intercourse. The response should urgently come in the from of comprehensive adolescent SRH programmes.     

Sexual behaviour of adolescents before and after the advent of AIDS

OBJECTIVES: To asses changes in sexual behaviour and use of contraceptive methods in Danish adolescents from the period before the advent of AIDS up to the present. DESIGN: Comparative study comparing data obtained from two identical cross sectional surveys SETTING: Grenaa Gymnasium, Denmark. SUBJECTS: 626 high school students in 1982 and 499 high school students in 1996. METHODS: An anonymous standardised self administered questionnaire handed out to high school students at Grenaa Gymnasium in spring 1982. In spring 1996 an identical questionnaire was handed out to every high school student at the same gymnasium. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Age at first sexual intercourse, contraceptive use, and reasons for choice of contraceptive strategy. RESULTS: Today more males had experienced the first sexual intercourse before their 16th birthday (p = 0.047) compared with 1982, the reverse held for females (p = 0.003). From 1982 to 1996 condom use increased in males with no regular partner (p = 0.009). In females with no regular partner, there was during the same period an increase in considering the condom a personal contraceptive method (p = 0.017). In 1982 and 1996 protection from sexually transmitted diseases was given as reason for the choice of contraceptive strategy by 21% and 72% of males with no regular partner (p < 0.001), and by 7% and 32% of males with a regular partner (p < 0.001). The corresponding figures for females in 1982 and 1996 were 10% and 71% (p < 0.001) for those with no regular partner and 4% and 21% (p < 0.001) for those with a regular partner. CONCLUSION: Condom use has increased among adolescents with no regular partner brought up under the widespread awareness of AIDS, and the reason for this is to be protected from sexually transmitted diseases. A future decline in the incidence of various sexually transmitted diseases may be expected, and information on safe sexual practices should be continued.     

Caring for pregnant teens and their mothers, too

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To describe the sexual behavior and contraception use among a sample of high school and vocational school adolescents in Barcelona, Spain. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: A random sample of 3139 students, aged 14 to 19 years, living in the city of Barcelona, were surveyed by means of an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire. SPSS/PC+ was used for statistical analysis. Significance criterion was set at 0.01. MAIN RESULTS: 13% of the students had previously participated in sexual intercourse; percentages between the sexes was equal. Frequency increased with age. Boys had their first experience at a significantly earlier age, but girls participated in sexual intercourse more often. The majority of adolescents used condoms as their primary contraceptive method; seven (3.3%) of the sexually active girls had been pregnant, and two (1%) boys had caused their partners to become pregnant. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of sexual activity among adolescents in Barcelona is low compared with those in both European and American studies. However, a higher rate of condom use is observed.     

Development of guidelines to designate alleles using an STR multiplex system

A random sample of 876 subjects aged 65-79 years were investigated by means of a questionnaire concerning sleep and related factors. Sleep problems were reported by 23.8% of females and 13.3% of males. Moderate or major complaints of maintaining sleep were reported by 43.5% of subjects, early morning awakening 33.4% and difficulties falling asleep 31.4%. Daytime sleepiness was more common among males, and a relationship between daytime sleepiness and perceived poor sleep was found. Daytime napping was common, but not related to poor sleep. The prevalence of regular sleeping pill users was 7.6% for females and 3.0% for males and a relationship between sleep problems, sleeping pill usage and psychiatric symptoms was established. Among the regular sleeping pill users 39.1% had possible depression (PD) and 63.0% had possible anxiety disorder (PA). Among respondents with sleep complaints 29.8% had PD and 48.7% had PA. Sleep problems were also related to impaired physical health. Various medical illnesses contributed to sleep complaints among males, and depression affected sleep the most among females.     

Contraception for the under 16s: better safe than sorry

This study concerns the opinions of family planning clinic clients on the availability of contraception for adolescents under 16 years of age. The 1978 British statistics indicated that 1300 babies were born to girls under 16, while in France 3000 babies were born. A 1965 study by Schofield of sexual attitudes and behavior of 15-19 year olds in Britain found that experienced girls were as sexually active as experienced boys. He also found that 54% of sexually experienced boys never used a contraceptive and 65% of experienced girls did not insist on contraceptive use. Furthermore, sex education was found to be in heavy demand by adolescents, but that the demand was not being met. This and other studies suggest that adolescent children behave sexually although there is a marked reluctance to admit to it. The questionnaire study of opinions involved 60 British subjects ranging from 15-58 years of age. The mean age was 27, and age at marriage ranged from 16-36 years. The age at leaving home ranged from 13-32 years. Information was gathered on the onset of sexual activity, contraceptive habits, an evaluation of sexuality, and views on abortion, and premarital sexual intercourse. The results indicate that: 1) age at 1st intercourse ranged from 13-28 years with a mean age of 18, 2) age at 1st marriage was at a mean of 21 years, but at this age a drop in frequency of 1st intercourse occurred, 3) 14 of the 60 had not had premarital intercourse, 4) 60% of all subjects used contraception at the time of 1st intercourse, with 31.5% between 20-30 years of age using contraception, 5) the most careful contraceptive users were those who became sexually active over the age of 21, 6) 40.5% considered their sex life to be very important while 53.4% felt it was fairly important, 7) 48.9% considered their sex life to be completely fulfilling and 48.9% felt it to be satisfactory, 8) 49% favored premarital intercourse, 41.9% favored it if it was right for the girl, while 3% felt it was acceptible if the couple was engaged, and 5.4% were totally against it, 9) 62% felt abortion was the right of every woman and 31.1% felt it was acceptible if the physical or mental well being of the mother was at risk, 10) 40.9% agreed with the British Medical Association policy on teenage contraception which advises doctors to encourage under 16's to tell their parents, but if they refuse, the doctor can still prescribe the pill, 11) 22.7% wanted contraception unconditionally available, 18.2% felt it should be dependent on parental knowledge, and 17% said it should not be available, 12) there was a trend for opinions to become less liberal as age increased, and 13) young girls appear to be less conscientious in using contraception than older women.     

Psychologists' attitudes and practices regarding erotic and nonerotic physical contact with patients.

Conducted a nationwide survey to investigate psychotherapists' beliefs and practices regarding physical contact with their patients. 1,000 PhD licensed psychologists, selected from the respondents to the 1974 American Psychological Association Manpower Survey, were mailed questionnaires; the response rate was 70%, and data from 347 male and 310 female Ss was used in the analysis. Results show that 5.5% of the male and .6% of the female Ss reported having had sexual intercourse with patients; an additional 2.6% of the males and .3% of the females reported having had sexual intercourse with these patients within 3 mo after the termination of therapy. Of those Ss who had had intercourse with patients, 80% repeated it. More males than females reported erotic contact with patients (10.9% vs 1.9%), but there were almost no differences on this variable among therapists of 5 therapy orientations. On nonerotic contact there were no sex differences, but there were therapy-orientation differences. The results are compared with previously reported results for physicians, and implications regarding the exploitation of patients are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Historical aspects and future directions

A stratified random sample of 750 males aged 18 to 27 in Calgary, Canada included questions on sexual activity and orientation. A computerized response format (established as a good method for eliciting sensitive personal data) ensured anonymity. Three measures of homosexuality were employed: (1) voluntary, same-gender sexual contact from age 12 to 27: 14.0%; (2) overlapping homosexual (5.9%) and/or bisexual (6.1%) self-identification: 11.1%; and (3) exclusive (4.3%) and non-exclusive (4.9%) same-gender sexual relationships in past 6 months: 9.2%. On the basis of one or more of the three often overlapping measures, 15.3% of males reported being homosexual to some degree. CES-D depression scores did not differ significantly for sexually active homosexual (mean 14.6), bisexual (mean 15.7), and heterosexual (mean 13.7) males. The elevated depression scores for celibate homosexual (mean 27.1) and heterosexual (mean 23.6) males permit various interpretations, but are not supportive of beliefs and related institutional policies recommending or requiring that young adult homosexual males be celibate.     

Telethermographic studies on the effect of immunoglobulins (Beriglobin) on heat radiation behavior in radiodermatitis

OBJECTIVES: To determine the criterion-related validity of alternative approaches to the measurement of sexual intercourse using sexually transmitted diseases (STD) as a biomarker (the criterion). STUDY DESIGN: Analyses are based on an urban sample of 255 adolescent women, 15 to 19 years of age, treated for genitourinary infections with Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis or Trichomonas vaginalis who returned 3 months later for reexamination. Subjects completed self-administered questionnaires at enrollment and at 3 months. Genitourinary cultures were obtained at enrollment, 2 to 4 weeks later at a test-of-treatment visit (TOT), and at 3 months. RESULTS: Two hundred fourteen of the 255 adolescents also returned for a TOT culture; 186 of these 214 (73%) were free of infection 2 to 4 weeks after enrollment and 30% (56/186) acquired a subsequent STD by 3 months. The validity of questions about sexual behavior differed. No adolescent who denied interim intercourse by reporting "0" sexual partners or "0" coitions acquired an interval STD. Adolescents who denied regular intercourse (vaginal sex) or failed to indicate the number of interim coitions were at high risk for new STD-23% and 21%, respectively. A new measure of sexual intercourse using both the number of sexual partners and the number of coitions contained no missing data; adolescents classified as not having had interim sexual intercourse were free of infection at 3 months, whereas 32% of those who reported intercourse acquired an interim infection. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that high-risk urban adolescent women can accurately report whether they have engaged in vaginal intercourse. The validity of the report appears sensitive to the wording and content of the questions.     

Characteristic but unfamiliar--the cowpox infection, transmitted by a domestic cat

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of stroke survivors in a health district population aged 55 years and over. DESIGN: This was a point prevalence study using two-stage postal questionnaires sent to an age stratified random sample of the population. SETTING: A district health authority in northern England with a resident population of 723,000. SUBJECTS: Altogether 18,827 residents aged 55 years or over. MAIN RESULTS: Prevalence was found to increase with age and, apart from the very elderly, males had a higher prevalence than females. Overall prevalence was found to be 46.8/1,000 (95% CI 42.5, 51.6). 23% of respondents reported full recovery from stroke. Cognitive impairments (33%), problems with lower limbs (33% for right leg; 27% for left leg) and speech difficulties (27%) were the most common residual impairments. CONCLUSIONS: Current guidelines to purchasers on the provision of services to those who have had a stroke may under-estimate prevalence rates by as much as 50%. This could lead to a shortfall in provision of services designed to support people in the months and years following their stroke.     

What do Norwegians know about sexually transmitted diseases? Results from a survey on Norwegians' knowledge about sexually transmitted diseases

This paper reports on knowledge about sexually transmitted diseases in Norwegian adults. The sample (572 males and 601 females) was representative of Norwegians aged 15 and above. Data were collected by means of personal interviews and self-completed questionnaires. Out of ten respondents, seven did not know that sexually diseases are not transmitted via toilet seats; six that syphilis is not the most prevalent of the sexually transmitted diseases in Norway; five that both males and females can be infected by chlamydia; four that contraceptive pills do not protect against chlamydia infection; three that condoms protect against all sexually transmitted diseases; and two that condoms protect against gonorrhoea and that females infected by sexually transmitted diseases run higher risk of infertility. Knowledge about sexually transmitted diseases was lowest in the youngest and oldest age groups, and increased monotonously with increased education.     

Changes in attitude, sexual behaviour and the risk of HIV/AIDS transmission in southwest Nigeria

This pilot study was carried out in southwest Nigeria to determine the current trends in sexual behaviours known to be associated with HIV transmission in Nigeria. Knowledge of AIDS in general and as an incurable disease was high (91.4% and 79.4% respectively). Knowledge of the means of AIDS transmission was also very high among both men and women. Overall, condom use was consistent at 25%, inconsistent at 55% and non-existent at 20% for all sexually active respondents. Over 60 per cent of sexually active respondents had two or more sexual partners, with significantly more males than females having this number of sexual partners (p < 0.01). Eighteen per cent of sexually active respondents had a history of sex with commercial sex workers while 25% had a history of at least one sexually transmitted disease. Using multiple logistic regression, the significant determinants of condom use among the sexually active group were: being in a stable sexual relationship, history of sex with commercial sex workers, self-perception of testing positive for HIV and self-perception of HIV/AIDS risk in Nigeria. Prevalence of condom use in this study was much higher than those reported in previous studies, suggesting a probable decline in high risk sexual behaviours among inhabitants of urban Southwest Nigeria since the advent of AIDS. Most sexually active respondents aged 19 years or below (adolescents) who perceived themselves at a high risk of testing positive for HIV had never used condoms. The non usage of condoms among this group of adolescents is disturbing, since they are at greatest risk of spreading the disease. Health education and promotion of safe sex practices need to be extensively targeted at adolescents.