Condom use awareness among youth in the occupied Palestinian territory

The knowledge and attitudes of young Palestinian men with regards to contraceptive use has to a large extent been neglected in the literature dealing with family planning (FP) methods among Palestinians. In particular, information on the awareness of family planning methods among youth (15-29 years of age) has generally focused on the female population, with accounts of the male youth population rare. Indeed, it was only in 2010 that the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) included questions related to information on family planning methods among male youth. Moreover, the use of FP methods is quite low (52%). This paper will present an analysis of the related findings of the 2010 Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey in relation to awareness of condom use in particular. It will point to significant differences between young men and women in their knowledge and awareness of condom use in different locations and within different subgroups. Moreover, given the relatively low level of FP use among Palestinians, understanding the lower levels of awareness of condom use among specific groups is an important element to recognize in relation to increasing the use of FP methods on a national level and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) awareness and prevention.