STD Prevention Survey

[jenk]

The online survey, taken by Harris Interactive for the American Social Health Association, indicates that while 84% of sexually active adults between 18-35 felt they take necessary precautions to protect themselves against sexually transmitted diseases, their actions do not reflect the belief. The survey indicates 82% of those adults never use protection against STDs for oral sex, 64% never use protection for anal sex, and 47% never use protection for vaginal sex. [...] Ninety-three percent of those surveyed believe their current partner did not have a STD, but about a third said they had never even discussed the issue with their partners, and only 53% said their partners had been tested.
- article

On the one hand, I'm quite willing to believe this because many people I know feel STDs happen to other people.

On the other hand, I read "online survey" and I start wondering how the sample was selected. I read "64% of those adults never use protection for anal sex" and I wonder, is that 64% of those who feel they take precautions against STDs and have anal sex, or 64% of those who feel they take precautions against STDs? Cause, you know, the second group is probably larger than the first.

It's an interesting article. I'm just not sure I believe the numbers.