Counseling on Condom Use Decreases Breakage and Slippage Rates

Counseling men on the correct use of a condom lowers rates of condom failure due to the condoms breaking or slipping off, according to a recent USAID-supported study from Family Health International.

This study examined self-reported breakage and slippage rates among 314 men who attended a clinic for sexually transmitted infections in Kingston, Jamaica, and were followed for up to six months. These men were shown the correct way to use a condom on a model of a penis. They also received free condoms, which they were asked to use during every act of intercourse. Self-reported breakage rates dropped from 18.5 percent (before the first study visit) to 7.2 percent (at the first follow-up visit). Slippage rates decreased from 3.5 percent to 1.5 percent. Throughout the rest of the trial, after further counseling on using condoms and preventing STIs, breakage rates stayed just below 10 percent. Slippage rates stayed below 2 percent.

When condoms are used properly, failure rates are low — about 2 percent each for breakage and slippage. The results emphasize the need to improve the quality of condom counseling to reduce the unacceptably high rates of breakage that persisted even after counseling. For more information, click here.

Source
Steiner M, Taylor D, Hylton-Kong T, Mehta N, Figueroa JP, Bourne D, Hobbs M, Behets F. Decreased condom breakage and slippage rates after counseling men at a sexually transmitted infection clinic in Jamaica. Contraception 2007 Feb 20.