Abstract

PIP: A significant proportion of sexually active heterosexual men in New Zealand do not use condoms. 12 heterosexual men aged 20 to over 40 years seeking services at the Auckland Sexual Health Service were interviewed during December 1995 to August 1996 by a male heterosexual researcher in a study of constructs for safe sex and condom use. The participants consider their sexuality to be natural and a subject for only rare discussion with peers and sex partners. Safe sex is constructed between sexual and other forms of safety to produce two specific meanings for condom use. Condom use to protect against infection is associated with casual sexual encounters, multiple partners, in the initial stages of a relationship, and for penetrative vaginal and heterosexual anal intercourse. However, condom use for contraceptive purposes is linked to more stable monogamous relationships in which condoms are rarely used. In both cases, men appear to fear humiliation by sex partners and peers more than they fear infection or death as a result of sexually transmitted diseases or HIV/AIDS. Female partners are thought to be responsible for initiating safe sex talk and condom use. Demonstrating both the risk of humiliation from non-use and harm to oneself and others may be a viable approach to promoting condom use.