CAN CONDOM USERS LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE CONDOM FAILURE BE IDENTIFIED

A study based on a convenience sample of 177 couples who each used 11 condoms found that 103 condoms (5.3%) broke before or during intercourse and 67 condoms (3.5%) slipped off during sex. Couples who had not used a condom in the past year were almost twice as likely to experience condom failure as were couples who had used at least one during that period (p<.001). Of the couples who had used a condom in the previous year, the failure rate among those who reported at least one condom break during that period was more than twice the failure rate among those who reported no breaks (p<.001). Among couples who had used condoms in the past year without breaking any, those who did not live with their partner and those who had a high school education or less were at increased risk of condom failure (adjusted odds ratios of 3.2 and 2.7, respectively).