Characteristics of males at a public health department contraceptive service.

To effectively confront teenage pregnancy, the characteristics, attitudes, and behaviors of males, along with females, need to be better understood. This pilot study examined young males who visited the family planning clinic of a public health department to obtain free condoms. Questionnaires were distributed over a 4-week period. Nearly 30% of males reported having sex 11+ times a month. However, an equal proportion reported having sex three or fewer times in the same interval. Most males reported using condoms during sex, although one quarter reported use as "seldom." The health department was a major source of condoms and was positively evaluated because condoms were free and there were "no questions asked." Only one third of the males reported using another method of contraception. Results suggest a major role of the health department in condom availability and the potential need for contraceptive services for males.