رفتار جنسی محافظت نشده در بین جوانان ایرانی و مسایل فرهنگی مرتبط

Background and Aim: Condom use in extramarital sexual relations is a major tool, protecting the two partners against venereal diseases. Therefore, it is essential to investigate this matter. This study aimed to determine the reasons for using and not using the condom by the Iranian youth in their extramarital sexual relations and the related cultural issues. Materials and Methods: This was a national cross-sectional survey using multistage sampling in 13 provinces in Iran, including 3246 participants 19-29 years old, conducted in 2014, using a questionnaire to collect data. Results: The proportion of males in the sample was 51% and that of females 49%. On the whole, 19.5% of the participants (31.7% of the males and 6.9% of the females) had had extramarital sex relations. The proportions of the participants with a history of extramarital sex using the condom at every intercourse, almost at every intercourse, sometimes and never were 21.7%, 15.4%, 35.3% and 27.6%, respectively. The reasons for not using the condom regularly were unavailability of the condom, not liking it, its high price, it not being necessary and using other tools. Conclusion: The major reasons for not using the condom had cultural roots or were related to personal and cultural preferences. Encouraging condom use widely would require appropriate cultural policy-making