Sociodemographic characteristics of participants
Most participants, eight out of twenty, were aged between 18–24 years. Nineteen of the twenty participants identified as heterosexuals while the remaining participant identified as gay. Similarly, most participants, sixteen out of twenty were never married and eleven of the twenty participants identified as females. Further, thirteen of the twenty participants reported that they are sexually active in Australia (Table 1).
Table 1
Socio-demographic characteristics of participants
Variable | Frequency (%) |
Sex | |
Female | 11 (55.0%) |
Male | 9 (45.0%) |
Age | |
18–24 years | 8 (40.0%) |
25–29 years | 6 (30.0%) |
30–39 years | 6 (30.0%) |
Marital status | |
Single | 16 (80.0%) |
Married | 4 (20.0%) |
Background | |
East Asia | 10 (50.0%) |
Sub-Saharan Africa | 10 (50.0%) |
Sexual orientation | |
Heterosexual | 19 (95.0%) |
LGBTQI+ | 1 (5.0%) |
Sexually active in Australia | |
Yes | 13 (65.0%) |
No | 7 (35.0%) |
Themes Contextualising Condomless Sex
Patterns in the data showed themes describing contexts were condomless sex occurs as well as injunctive and descriptive norms around this sexual practice. These themes are grouped into three: (1) unanticipated sex, condom related stigma and alcohol use (2) pleasure-seeking, curiosity and intimacy (3) condomless sex as a gendered practice.
Unanticipated sex, condom related stigma and alcohol use
Findings indicate that condomless sex occurs within the context of unanticipated sexual encounters. Some participants who reported recent condomless sex disclosed that they were not in possession of a condom at the time. Some of them also mentioned that these sexual encounters were not anticipated.
It [sex] was impromptu, it [condom] was not available (female/31/sub-Saharan Africa).
Interview data suggests that participants understand the risks associated with unanticipated sex and how carrying condoms around could help in preventing these risks. In fact, one of the participants used metaphors to emphasize a need for young people to always carry condoms.
[it is] a raincoat (condom). You carry it around because you don’t know when it will rain (unanticipated sex). If you don’t have it and the rain starts, you [will] just get wet (get infected with BBV/STI) (male/30/sub-Saharan Africa).
Further, although it could be argued that young people do not have condoms handy because they may not know where to get them or that purchasing condoms may be expensive, the interviews indicate that this is not the case for these group of students as some reported that they are aware of settings where they can access free condoms:
… when I went to the medical centre, I actually saw a place, a stand where they placed free condoms for people, if they want to have sex (male/19/sub-Saharan Africa).
… it [condomless sex] is sad, because condom is not expensive. [Condom] availability is not a problem, it is always there, anyone can acquire and can afford it as well (male/29/sub-Saharan Africa).
However, one participant noted that freely distributed condoms are of low quality and interfere with sexual pleasure and intimacy.
Free condoms are really bad quality. The free condom is like more rubber … I tried the free condoms from the university public health service. That is really bad. I will not use this condom [again]. … If you really want to have [unhindered pleasurable sex], you need to spend your money to buy the good brand condoms. That might be better (female/36/East Asia).
Thus, the data indicate that though condoms may be freely available and affordable, there may be other reasons that these young people do not have condoms on them. The interviews suggest that they may feel uncomfortable and reluctant to carry condoms around for fear of being judged as a result of premarital abstinence expectations. A participant reported that participating in the interview had caused him to reflect on his views that carrying a condom was disrespectable:
Maybe before now [before participating in the interview], I will say it wasn’t so nice, it wasn’t so presentable for a person, but you can’t really judge a person for carrying condom (male/29/sub-Saharan Africa).
Many of these participants come from more traditional cultures with conservative norms around sex and sexual activities21. Condoms may be highly stigmatised in these settings and associated with promiscuous sexual activities39,40. Being from a conservative culture may potentially affect how young people from these settings feel about accessing and/or carrying condoms around in Australia.
… let me tell you why. The culture in [home country] is so disgusting. They give you this stigma, they give this kind of eye like [participant demonstrates such disdainful facial expression] … That’s why you find it very hard to see [young] people going to buy it [condom]. I have some people, then, that they find it very hard to go and get it [condom]. ... if they see it [condom] with you, the facial expression they will give you… even the person selling it will give you [disproving] facial expression (female/29/sub-Saharan Africa).
In contrast to the more conservative norms in their home country, some participants feel that there is little or no stigma around accessing, purchasing or being in possession of condoms in Australia.
… they are not really comfortable going and request[ing] for it [condom], …but over here, I don’t see it [accessing condoms] as a problem. People walk into pharmacies and shops and they buy and because the awareness is really effective over here, people don’t really find it to be a problem purchasing [condoms] (male/29/sub-Saharan Africa).
Interestingly, findings also indicate that even in Australia, accessing and carrying condoms around may not translate to actual use even in planned sexual encounters. The interviews suggest that sociocultural norms stigmatising condoms by associating being in possession of condoms with sexual permissiveness and this may intersect with gender stereotype thereby leading to condomless sex:
But can I tell you one thing, basically, in respect of women, they don’t really say it, but we feel it as women. If you come to someone’s place ready, like having condoms in your bag, it doesn’t give you a good impression, you don’t come off as a decent woman because they expect a woman not to be expecting sex; even if in such a case when we have an online chat and I am going to someone’s place for that reason [to have sex], it doesn’t look right in his eyes to see [me] bringing condoms. They look at women in a different way and I have shared this idea with my other friends, they say “sometimes we have it [condom]; but we are too embarrassed to say we came prepared.” That will indicate she is used to having so much sex, that way, she doesn’t look great in his eyes (female/23/East Asia).
An additional reason reported by some participants for not using condoms is when sex occurs under the influence of alcohol. Participants reported that sex under the influence of alcohol weakens personal decisions not to engage in condomless sex.
For me, nothing would make me want to have sex without a condom, unless I’m drunk. That’s it. [Probe: Okay. Have you ever been?]. Yeah, that was the time that we didn’t use a condom. [It] was when I was drunk. The person that I had unprotected sex with wasn’t the guy I’m seeing [dating]. It was another guy (female/19/sub-Saharan Africa).
Pleasure-seeking, curiosity and condom use fatigue
The interviews showed that condom use among participants is complex, and not just related to condom availability. A participant described a gap between having a condom and remembering to use it.
… but it’s always not easy ... [you] do not even think of that [using condom], so, it’s always really hard to remember … even if you have the condom in the pocket … Most of the time it’s hard. For me, I always prefer to withdraw than use a condom (male/27/sub-Saharan Africa).
Moreover, pleasure-seeking is also cited as a reason for condomless sex occurrence based on personal accounts and description of social practice among members of the study population. The need to increase pleasurable experience could be contributing to condomless sex among the group as condoms are perceived as barriers to sexual pleasure.
So, based on my experience, I think, one thing could be like … want[ing] to find more pleasure, want[ing] to find more exciting experience (male/22/East Asia).
I think people just love the pleasure that comes without using a condom … they feel more satisfied, more connected with whatever individual they are having a sexual experience with without a condom. So, I think that is why, basically, they tend to go without it (male/29/sub-Saharan Africa).
Not using a condom may also occur out of a desire for deeper connection and intimacy with a partner. Aside inhibiting sexual pleasure, condoms may also be viewed as barrier to intimacy in sexual interactions.
Because many people complain that they have some different feelings. They think that condom materials are uncomfortable or it’s isolating them from each other…condoms should have some other materials that improve the quality of the condom. So, when people use the condom, they don’t feel different (female/36/East Asia).
Further, curiosity was equally reported as a reason for engaging in condomless sex. Some participants narrated experiences where they engaged in condomless sex for the purpose of experimentation and satisfying their curiosity around what condomless sex feels like.
I think it was … maybe the curiosity (female/22/sub-Saharan Africa).
First time I think I just wanted to try it [condomless sex]. I just tried it for a while and then I used condom … to make it safe (male/22/East Asia).
Condomless sex may also be linked to condom use fatigue over time as sex with the same partner may become condomless with time. Findings indicate that this sporadic use of condoms may be attributed both to condom use fatigue and feelings of ‘trusting’ a partner with time. The occurrence of condomless sex in this context was reported among male and female participants.
At some point, if you’re in a relationship with someone and you’ve been using condoms … you get to a point where there’s this sort of trust that comes and you decide not to use condoms. … So, that’s kind of the point where I will chuck away the use of condoms. … It has happened with more than three people (male/32/sub-Saharan Africa).
there would always be a point … where you wouldn’t use protection, … especially with someone that you’re dating. So, there were times when we didn’t use stuff [condom] like that (female/29/sub-Saharan Africa).
Condomless sex as gendered practice
The interview data indicate that condomless sex practices and norms appear to be gendered and this includes the way condoms are accessed. Women reported that they rely on men to provide condoms and condomless sex may likely occur when this expectation is not met.
I like being protected but I rely on the guy to have condoms and [at] those certain times, there was none … we just had sex without condoms (female/23/East Asia).
Findings also indicate that participants associate condomless sex with gender negotiations and power. Although the study findings in this regard are complex, women and girls are perceived by both male and female participants to be gatekeepers who may have the power to decide whether sex will be condomless or protected.
… and then maybe the men don’t like it [condom]. I don’t know why. … for me, if [a] man wants to have sex with me and doesn’t listen to me [to use a condom], then I will ignore him. I just leave him, but I don’t know why other girls just don’t leave? (female/36/East Asia)
This experience is also echoed by a younger participant:
I know some guys; they probably don’t want to use [condoms] and the girls just allow it (female/24/East Asia).
The gendered view relating to condomless sex was also linked to a socio-cultural norm that associates condom use with female promiscuity or sex work in conservative cultures:
Like in my culture, having sex with a lady using protection [condom] can be very difficult because … [that means that] you have defined her to be a prostitute… “It means you don’t trust me, and so you feel I’m going around having sex with so many people.” So, that belief is there (male/30/sub-Saharan Africa).