These days, more and more young women are becoming aware of the importance of safe sex. Unfortunately, a study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health has found out that ladies who rely on their men for funds don’t count among them.
Researchers don’t think these girls are bartering unprotected sex for money, but they do have reason to believe that the need to have certain things can lead to poor decision-making in this area. This conclusion was based on a detailed questionnaire answered by 700 African-American women from ages 15 to 21. All the participants were unmarried and sexually active.
At the beginning of the study, researchers found out that almost one-quarter of the women depended primarily on their men for money. Among these women, 25 percent admitted that their partners did not use a condom in the preceding two months. Among those who received their income elsewhere, only 15 percent reported having unprotected sex. Interestingly, women who stopped relying on their partners for money were more likely to start practicing safe sex.
In an effort to rule out any other characteristics that may affect the study, researchers matched the two groups on more than 75 characteristics. Still, there seemed to be no other factors that stood out apart from their sources of income.
These results are only half of the story. More research needs to be done on the subject. In the meantime, researchers think that a change in the way people address the issue needs to happen. In these tough economic times, they believe that a safe sex campaign that takes finances into consideration may have more impact than a regular one.
For more on safe sex, check these out on FN:
- Drinking Makes You More Likely to Have Unsafe Sex
- FN Fact and Fiction: On Safe and Safer Sex
- New Study: Oral Sex Increases Cancer Risk in Men + 5 Safe Oral Sex Tips
- Real Men Wear Condoms: Why Using Rubbers Is a Sign of a Mature and Responsible Guy
- How to Teach Your Teenager about Smart Sex
(Photo by spunkinator via Flickr Creative Commons)
