Research Article: Association between condom use and perceived barriers to and self-efficacy of safe sex among young women in Japan

This study aimed to assess the relationships between condom-use behaviors and perceived barriers to and self-efficacy of safe sex among young women in Japan. The data were obtained from a total of 456 participants who reported having had sex in the past. The initial analysis examined the associations between condom use and demographics, perceived condom-use barriers, and perceived self-efficacy of safe sex items. Variables displaying significance in the bivariate analysis were inserted into a multivariate model to determine the adjusted odds ratios. The variables most highly associated with condom use included age and the lifetime number of sex partners. The perceptual barriers included "condoms reduce sexual sensation", "confidence in using condoms from beginning to end", and "confidence to refuse sex if neither my partner nor I have a condom at hand". The findings suggest that behavior-change interventions that focus on addressing the perceived barriers and enhancing self-efficacy might be effective in order to promote consistent condom use. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]