Condom embarrassment: contributing factors.

This study examined the contribution of religiosity self-efficacy in relation to condom use and selected demographic characteristics to condom embarrassment among college students. Four hundred and eighty-six unmarried college students under 25 years of age enrolled in personal health classes at six Texas universities were used as subjects. A 78 item questionnaire was developed to collect data. Results indicated that condom use self-efficacy previous experience in purchasing a condom and ethnicity are all strongly associated with condom embarrassment. In addition religiosity was found to be correlated with condom embarrassment for female subjects. High condom embarrassment scores were observed in subjects who never had sexual intercourse purchased a condom Protestant subjects and those who always attend worship services. Subjects who previously participated in a sex education course showed lower levels of condom embarrassment than those who did not have a sex education course. There was no difference found in condom embarrassment scores between males and females. Results of this study support the need for multiple approaches to health education delivery for different populations. Health educators should carefully consider the learners ethnicity religion gender self-efficacy and other factors that may indicate the need for a unique approach to instruction. (authors)