Abstract:

In order to correctly and consistently use condoms as protection during sex, individuals first typically engage in preparatory behaviors such as acquiring a condom. This paper explores Filipino men’s efficacy beliefs about condom acquisition using data from the 2003 National Demographic & Health Survey. Results show that many Filipino men believe they could obtain a condom for themselves if they wanted to, though these efficacy beliefs were related to embarrassment about buying condoms, prior heterosexual experience, and socioeconomic status, but not to knowledge of condoms’ protective ability or to other demographic factors. The critical role of embarrassment as a social emotion surrounding condom acquisition as well as the importance of examining preparatory behaviors for research and intervention purposes are discussed.