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Condom misuse has proven to be a serious public health problem
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
An international team of researchers has concluded that incorrect condom use is extremely common in all regions of the world and is a serious public health problem.
The Condom Use Research Team (CURT) at the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University brought together more than 20 scientists from different countries. Over the course of more than 10 years, they conducted numerous studies on this topic and published them in a special issue of the scientific journal Sexual Health.
According to the scientists' findings, many people use condoms incorrectly, for example, putting them on the wrong way or not throughout the entire sexual encounter. Moreover, this is typical for residents of both developing and economically developed countries.
CURT members believe that educating the public on the correct use of condoms will play a critical role in preventing the spread of HIV infection and reducing the incidence of unplanned pregnancies.
"While we would like to think that the AIDS epidemic is declining, it is not. In the United States, the situation is getting worse. We continue to expect doctors to solve the epidemic, but this is the wrong approach. We know how to prevent… many infectious diseases. It is disease prevention that is the modern solution to the AIDS epidemic, and we must seriously use it," said Richard Crosby, a member of CURT, editor-in-chief of the special issue of Sexual Health, and professor at the University of Kentucky.
"Condoms are the vaccine we've been waiting for," he added.
The researchers believe that the role of protection in preventing sexually transmitted infections can be increased through public education, an online information campaign, and counseling in health care settings. For these efforts to be successful, it is necessary to overcome the discomfort and embarrassment that many people experience when talking about sex, the scientists say.
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