Abstract

Objectives: Despite evidence that menstrual bleeding is a risk factor for sexually transmissible infections, few studies have assessed the prevalence of, and reasons for, condom use during menses. The objectives of the present study were to examine (1) the prevalence of condom use during menses; (2) if condom use during menses varies depending on age and gender inequality of country of residence; and (3) whether age and gender inequality of country of residence interact with reasons for using, and not using, condoms during menses. Methods: A sample of 25,955 individuals from 146 countries, all reporting penile-vaginal intercourse in the past 3 months, was used. Condom use during menses over the previous 3 months, whether this varied by age and level of gender inequality in countries, and reasons for using and not using condoms during menses were assessed via a web-based questionnaire. Results: Age and gender inequality of country of residence were significant predictors of condom use during menses, with those in the younger, high gender-equality group significantly the most likely, and those in the older, low gender-equality group, the least likely to use condoms during bleeding. The three most reported reasons were “for contraception,” “I use condoms even when I don’t have my period,” and “protecting your partner from your blood.” Reported reasons for using and not using condoms during menses showed significant associations with age and with level of gender inequality. Conclusion: Findings highlight that globally sexually transmitted infection/HIV education programs need to promote consistent condom use across the menstrual cycle.

摘要

目的：尽管有证据表明月经出血是性传播疾病的危险因素，但很少有研究评估月经期间使用避孕套的流行程度和原因。本研究的目的是检查（1）月经期间使用安全套的情况；（2）月经期间避孕套的使用是否根据居住国家的年龄和性别不平等而有所不同；（3）居住国家的年龄和性别不平等是否与月经期间使用或不使用安全套的原因有关。方法：使用了来自146个国家的25,955个人的样本，所有这些人在过去3个月内均报告了阴茎-阴道性交。通过基于网络的调查问卷，评估了在过去三个月中，月经期间避孕套的使用情况是否随年龄和性别不平等程度的不同而不同，以及月经期间使用和不使用安全套的原因。结果：居住国家的年龄和性别不平等是月经期间使用安全套的重要预测因素，年轻，性别平等程度较高的人群中，使用避孕套的可能性最大，而年龄较弱，性别平等程度较低的人群中，使用避孕套的可能性最小。出血时使用避孕套。报道最多的三个原因是“避孕”，“即使我没有经期也要使用避孕套”和“保护伴侣免受血液伤害”。据报道，在月经期间使用和不使用安全套的原因与年龄和性别不平等程度之间存在显着相关性。结论：研究结果突出表明，全球性传播感染/艾滋病毒教育计划需要促进在整个月经周期内一致使用避孕套。