Teenager confidently holding condoms, surrounded by symbols of health and empowerment.

Condom Confidence: How to Create a Teen-Friendly Action Plan for Safe Sex

Jordan Keane in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Equipping adolescents with the skills to plan and confidently use condoms can dramatically reduce the risk of STIs and promote responsible sexual health."

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) pose a significant global health challenge, particularly among adolescents and young adults. Each day, over a million people worldwide contract an STI, with those aged 15-24 being disproportionately affected. In 2015, this age group accounted for 20% of new HIV infections globally, highlighting the urgent need for effective prevention strategies.

Consistent and correct condom use is a highly effective method for preventing HIV and other STIs, including those transmitted through genital secretions or skin-to-skin contact, such as human papillomavirus (HPV). Condoms also help prevent unintended pregnancies, adding another layer of protection for sexually active teens.

Despite the proven benefits, condom use among adolescents remains inconsistent. While intention to use condoms is a key factor influencing behavior, it doesn’t always translate into actual use. Developing a concrete action plan can bridge this gap by helping teens anticipate situations, consider specific steps, and increase their likelihood of using condoms consistently.

Why an Action Plan? Turning Good Intentions into Safer Sex Practices

Teenager confidently holding condoms, surrounded by symbols of health and empowerment.

An action plan transforms a general intention into a concrete strategy. It involves anticipating when, where, and how a desired behavior will be executed. This mental rehearsal increases the likelihood of following through, especially in potentially challenging situations. By creating an 'if-then' scenario, individuals are better prepared to act decisively when faced with a specific trigger.

Research shows that implementation intentions are effective in promoting various health behaviors. Studies have demonstrated their success in:

Boosting Hepatitis B vaccination rates.
Increasing physical activity levels.
Promoting fruit and vegetable consumption.
Encouraging breast cancer screening.
Facilitating safer sexual behavior, including condom use.

While studies on action plans for condom use exist in adult populations, research focusing specifically on adolescents is lacking. A recent study aimed to address this gap by investigating whether adolescents have action plans for condom use, and if those plans include essential elements like acquiring, carrying, negotiating, and properly using condoms.

Empowering Teens for a Safer Future

These findings highlight the need for comprehensive sexual health education that goes beyond simply advocating condom use. By equipping adolescents with the skills to develop and implement concrete action plans, we can empower them to take control of their sexual health, reduce their risk of STIs, and foster responsible decision-making. Nursing interventions and educational programs should incorporate strategies that help teens anticipate challenges, plan specific steps, and confidently negotiate condom use in various situations, paving the way for a healthier future.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1177/1540415318802421, Alternate LINK

Title: Intención De Implementar Un Plan De Acción Para El Uso Del Condón En Adolescentes: Action Plan For Condom Use Implementation Intentions In Adolescents

Subject: General Nursing

Journal: Hispanic Health Care International

Publisher: SAGE Publications

Authors: Claudia Orozco Gómez, María Guadalupe Moreno Monsiváis

Published: 2018-09-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is the primary benefit of adolescents creating a condom action plan?

The primary benefit of adolescents creating a condom action plan is that it empowers them to take control of their sexual health by reducing the risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and fostering safer sexual practices. It helps turn good intentions into concrete strategies by anticipating when, where, and how condoms will be used, thereby increasing the likelihood of consistent condom use. This proactive approach prepares them for challenging situations and promotes responsible decision-making regarding their sexual health.

Why is consistent condom use important for sexually active teens?

Consistent and correct condom use is highly effective in preventing HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), including those transmitted through genital secretions or skin-to-skin contact, such as human papillomavirus (HPV). Besides STI prevention, condoms also provide an additional layer of protection by helping to prevent unintended pregnancies among sexually active teens. Addressing both STI and pregnancy prevention is vital for adolescent sexual health.

How does an action plan help in turning good intentions into actual condom use?

An action plan transforms a general intention into a concrete strategy by helping individuals anticipate the specific details of when, where, and how they will use condoms. It involves creating 'if-then' scenarios, which mentally prepare individuals to act decisively when faced with specific triggers. This mental rehearsal increases the likelihood of following through with the intended behavior, even in potentially challenging situations, by pre-planning the steps needed for condom use.

What are some key components that should be included in an adolescent's condom action plan?

A comprehensive condom action plan for adolescents should include essential elements such as: acquiring condoms, ensuring they always have access to them; carrying condoms discreetly and safely; negotiating condom use with a partner, including communication strategies and refusal skills; and properly using condoms, including understanding correct application and disposal techniques. Addressing each of these components ensures a well-rounded and effective plan.

How can nursing interventions and educational programs better equip teens for safer sexual practices?

Nursing interventions and educational programs can better equip teens by incorporating strategies that help them anticipate challenges, plan specific steps, and confidently negotiate condom use in various situations. This involves comprehensive sexual health education that goes beyond simply advocating condom use. By teaching adolescents how to develop and implement concrete action plans, these programs can empower them to take control of their sexual health, reduce their risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), and foster responsible decision-making. This holistic approach helps pave the way for a healthier future by addressing both the practical and emotional aspects of safer sex.