Eve Rose|Ralph J. DiClemente|Gina M. Wingood|Jessica M. Sales|Teaniese Latham|Richard A. Crosby|Jonathan M. Zenilman|Johan H. Melendez|James W. Hardin
The Validity of Teens' and Young Adults' Self-reported Condom Use
Emory University
examine concordance teens young adults selfreported condom use assessed audiocomputerassisted selfinterviewing ychromosome polymerase chain reaction ycpcr assay nondisease marker detecting presence sperm vaginal fluid 14 days unprotected vaginal sexrandomized trial human immunodeficiency virus prevention program data baseline randomization used analysisa clinicbased sample atlanta georgiaeligible teens young adults african american female teens young adults 15 21 years old reported sexual activity previous 60 days 1558 teens young adults screened march 1 2002 august 31 2004 847 eligible 715 844 participated baselineselfreported consistent condom use 14 days baseline ycpcr resultsof participants reported vaginal sex past 14 days 186 reported consistent condom use defined 100 condom use 63 positive ycpcr result indicating detection chromosome vaginal fluid participants reported consistent condom use selfreported history sexually transmitted diseases 24 times likely positive ycpcr result adjusted odds ratio 24 95 confidence interval 1248 p 01a significant degree discordance selfreports consistent condom use ycpcr positivity observed several rival explanations observed discordance exist including 1 teens young adults inaccurately reported condom use 2 teens young adults used condoms consistently used incorrectly resulting user error 3 teens young adults responded socially desirable answers using objective biological measure may provide one strategy validating teens young adults selfreported condom use