College students' condom purchase strategies

Despite wide accessibility of latex condoms, unplanned pregnancies and STD transmissions persist. Undergraduates' reports of a required condom purchase suggested purchase conditions that factor into condom use reluctance. Committed purchasers develop strategies that help complete the transaction. Males and females rely on similar purchase strategies. Female purchasers express more concern about the purchase and overall require more strategies, such as "hiding" the condoms among other items and bringing along supporters for the purchase. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.