[Use of condoms by adolescents seeking oral contraceptives in the Montreal area].

OBJECTIVES

To examine female adolescents' use of condoms before and after seeking their first prescription of oral contraceptives and to identify variables associated with use of oral contraceptives.

METHOD: This longitudinal study was conducted among 350 female adolescents recruited from 8 CLSCs in the Montreal Metropolitan Area. Data were collected at the first medical visit and again three months later.

RESULTS

At the 3-month follow-up, a decrease of 41% was observed in the systematic use of condoms with an inadequate use of condoms reported in 44% of subjects. In the last year, the variables associated with irregular use of condoms were low intention to use simultaneously the pill and the condom in the next 12 months, higher frequency of intercourse, a larger number of sexual partners, and alcohol or drug use before or during sexual intercourse.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that female adolescents stop using condoms when they adopt oral contraceptives. At the first visit, the lack or inadequate use of condoms seemed related to other STD risk behaviours. These results should encourage clinicians to revise their counselling approach with adolescents and promote dual protection in the context of serially monogamous relationships with known partners or with partners they trust.