[Attitudes to condoms and knowledge about STD. An inquiry among patients at a department of veneorology].

In order to chart the level of knowledge about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and experience with condom use a study was carried out at the venereological l clinic of Sahlgrenska Hospital in Goteborg from November 15 1989 to April 15 1990. A questionnaire was completed by a total of 143 women and 435 men who then answered questions. Only 7% of men and 14% of women were under 20 years of age. The level of knowledge about STDs and condoms was high: 87% knew that infection occurs through mucous membrane contact and 85% knew that condoms protected against both STDs and pregnancy. 67% said that they had steady partners. 88% believed that it was important to use condoms in casual sexual intercourse in view of the HIV risk. 51% of subjects stated that HIV influenced their behavior regarding condom use. However only 24% said that they always used condoms in intercourse with a casual new partner while almost half of them never did or did only occasionally. 47% of 526 subjects said that they had considered using a condom in intercourse with a new partner but this did not happen because of various reasons. 74% of 508 patients admitted to using condoms during all of intercourse. Regarding the last intercourse 8% said that the condom had broken and 3% said that it had slipped off. 22% stated that condoms would be used more often if they were free of charge and 25% said that they would use condoms if they were easier to obtain. 82% of 560 patients said that alcohol consumption occurred often or always in connection with casual sexual contact. 92% admitted that the influence of alcohol was the usual reason for nonuse of condoms in casual sex. 17% of women and 28% of men admitted that the influence of alcohol resulted in difficulty in remembering what had happened during sexual contact. At this venereological clinic there will be more time spent on providing information about safe sex and condom use.