Descripción

Objective: To determine the attitudes of university students in the Early Childhood Education program of a university institution in the city of Cali regarding the use of condoms in sexual practices. Methodology: Descriptive cross-sectional study, with a quantitative approach and non-experimental design. The sample consisted of 102 students randomly selected by convenience sampling; 98% of the participants were women between the ages of 17 and 51. Results: Participants indicated that the condom provides the same sensation of pleasure and, in addition, protects against sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancy, expressed by 35.3% (n=36) of respondents. Regarding condom use with their steady partner, 37.3% (n=38) said they never used condoms; however, when asked about condom use with casual partners, 67.6% (n=69) said they always used condoms. Concerning condom use at first sexual intercourse, 37.3% (n=38) reported not using condoms; among these, 21-year-old women were more likely to report not using condoms with 15.8% (n=6). Conclusions: Young women’s attitudes toward condom use may be influenced by several factors, including lack of adequate information, which may lead to negative attitudes, and traditions and cultural norms, which may affect the perception and acceptance of condom use. Life experiences, including personal trauma, may also have a significant impact on their attitudes toward condom use.