Research type 
Qualitative
Quantitative
Region 
Local
Year of report 
2009

Summary of findings

 

Overview

  • Young people need all the help they can get to have safer sex.
  • They are starting to have sex young, emotionally immature, often under the influence of alcohol and without the skills or knowledge to aid their decision to have safer sex.
  • There are varying degrees of knowledge of STIs but most is vague and confused.
  • There are three big stumbling blocks to overcome in getting young people to use condoms:
  1. Accessing condoms (C-Card is helping, but access is only one aspect of the problem. Advice and information is crucial to address the following two:)
  2. Carrying condoms (sex is not usually planned)
  3. Using condoms (the biggest hurdle; e.g. boys don’t like wearing them)

Current C-Card Service

  • Registration: maintain current system. Should be compulsory for 13-15s.
  • Venues / Opening hours: Health buses are important for the hard to reach / younger range.
  • Choice / range: Important to offer choice.

Future C-Card Service

  • Kiosks: This idea was very popular and would increase accessibility and use.
  • Venues: Young people would access kiosks in a wide range of venues.
  • Free Chlamydia Testing: Felt to be a good idea. Should be included with condoms in the kiosks where possible. Communication / advice should be distributed with the tests.

Staff / Face to Face Support

  • C-Card reps are very important in encouraging use of the scheme, educating and reassuring young people.

Written Information / Advice

  • Information needs to be less wordy and official looking. Needs to cover STI facts, frequently asked questions / urban myths, list of venues, web address etc.

Marketing

  • Where? The more the better according to the young people, in a wide range of places.
  • How? Larger, more prominent signage / posters. Email marketing campaign. Encourage word of mouth.
  • What? Get free condoms + confidential chat, their chance to ask questions, discuss any worries. Drop in, no need for appointment.

Key Messages

  • Why pay when you can get them for free – join the C-Card Scheme.
  • STIs are serious – its not just a baby that could ruin your life.
  • Condoms don’t have to be uncomfortable.
  • All of the above via website, posters / signage, and face to face.

Website

Ideas for the website include:

  • How to register
  • Info that would be talked through in registration process available – e.g. step by step process of putting on a condom etc.
  • Venue list and opening times
  • Blog / message boards
  • Send to a friend button

Research objectives

 

Research was required to find out primarily where young people would prefer to access free condoms, but to also explore the mechanics of how they want to access them and what types of condoms they would like to be made available as well as how awareness of the scheme should be raised.

Background

 
  • C-Card is a scheme designed to offer free condoms to young people aged 13-25 years.
  • The scheme is currently being offered via a number of venues (youth clubs, Connexion vans, Colleges etc.) across Wakefield.
  • Wakefield District PCT would like to widen the service they offer young people and ensure it is relevant, easily accessible and meets their needs as far as possible.

Quick summary

 

Research to find out where and how young people would like to access free condoms, what type, and how awareness should be raised, in order to support an initiative by Wakefield District PCT to widen the C-Card scheme and ensure it is as relevant, accessible and useful as possible.

Audience Summary

Gender

 
Male
Female
Other

Other Gender

 
(Not specified in the qualitative research, but mixed gender is assumed.)

Ethnicity

 

Not specified

Age

 

13-25 years

Social Class

 

Not specified

Methodology

Methodology

 

Qualitative research, as follows:

  • All research undertaken with young people aged between 13 to 25 years during January 2009.
  • All were non-rejectors of free condoms.  To have had sex or be thinking of having sex in the near future.
  • All to live within the Wakefield District area with coverage of the teen pregnancy hotspot wards.

C-Card Non Users:

  • 9 x 90 minute triads (depth interviews with 3 young people who know each other) by experienced, trained moderators, of which:
  1. 3 x 13-15 year olds (PRU, YOT)
  2. 3 x 16-18 year olds (random and through Wakefield, Castleford College)
  3. 3 x 20-25 year olds (random and through Wakefield College)
  • Conducted in a neutral venue (e.g. recruiter’s home) for increased confidentiality and to encourage respondents to respond openly and honestly whilst feeling at ease.

C-Card Users:

  • 5 x 15 minute sessions (13 respondents in total). Platform One, Hemsworth.
  • 5 x 15 minute individual interviews (5 respondents in total). Pontefract New College.
  • 3 x 15 minute sessions (7 respondents in total)YDSS van, Horbury.
  • 4 x 15 minute interviews (4 respondents in total). Hemsworth Art and Community College.

Quantitative research, as follows:

  • 81 x Online Surveys with 13 – 25 year olds through online panels and schools.
  • 58 x Paper based questionnaires through YOTs, PRUs, Open Door Project and in street.
  • 5 minute questionnaire, designed based on the qualitative findings.

Data collection methodology

 
Depth interviews
Face-to-face
Online
Other

Other data collection methodology

 

Qualitative triads, also paper based quantitative questionnaires

Sample size

 

Qualitative:

  • 9 triads (27 respondents) with non-C-Card users
  • 17 depths / pairs / triads (29 respondents) with C-Card users

Quantitative:

  • General sample: 81
  • Hard to Reach sample: 58

Detailed region

 

Wakefield area. Specifically: Centre, Ossett, Normanton, Horbury, Pontefract, Hemsworth, South Kirby, Castleford, Lupset, Knottingley, Featherstone

Fieldwork dates

 

Qualitative: January 2009. Quantitative: February 2009

Agree to publish

 

Private

Research agency

 
Platypus Research Limited.