Nursing and Midwifery Studies

Nursing and Midwifery Studies

Condom use and risky sexual behaviors among vocational certificate students: A cross-sectional study in Thailand, 2024

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Sopista Tunthanathip
Kasetchai Laeheem
Faculty of Liberal Arts, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand
10.48307/nms.2024.467129.1444
Abstract
Background: The rising incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among adolescents is a significant public health concern in Thailand, often linked to risky sexual behaviors.
Objectives: This study aimed to examine both risky and preventative sexual behaviors among vocational certificate students in Songkhla Province. Additionally, it sought to identify the factors that influence condom use within this demographic.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from March to May 2024, targeting students aged 18 to 24 years in Southern Thailand. We developed a comprehensive questionnaire and collected data through self-administered online surveys. Descriptive statistics were employed to outline the baseline characteristics of the participants, while binary logistic regression was used to analyze factors associated with regular condom use. The analyses performed using R software.
Results: A total of 656 participants completed the questionnaire, with 55.9% identifying as male, and all respondents were single. The mean age at first sexual intercourse was 15.99 years (±1.17) for males and 15.96 years (±1.22) for females. Lifetime regular condom use was reported by 57.0% of participants, while 47.8% indicated consistent condom use throughout their sexual experiences. Regular condom usage was positively associated with having multiple sexual partners (P value=0.01), whereas reliance on oral contraceptives (P value<0.001) and emergency contraception (P value<0.001) correlated with lower rates of consistent condom use.
Conclusion: Nearly half of the surveyed students reported inconsistent condom use, with risky behaviors linked to having multiple partners, a preference for convenience, and reliance on alternative contraceptive methods such as oral and emergency pills. Future educational interventions are essential to clarify misconceptions about condom use, promote safer sexual practices, reduce the transmission of STDs, and prevent unintended pregnancies.
Keywords
Sexually transmitted diseases
Students
Condoms
Sexual behavior

Subjects

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Nursing and Midwifery Studies
Volume 13, Issue 4
Autumn 2024
Pages 259-267

  • Receive Date 10 July 2024
  • Revise Date 12 November 2024
  • Accept Date 08 December 2024