Fernández, Maria LameirasRodrigues, Ana Claudia da CostaGarrido, José Maria Failde2006Fernández , M L , Rodrigues , A C D C & Garrido , J M F 2006 , ' Actividad sexual y práticas de riesgo en una muestra de estudiantes universitarios galegos ' , Revista Lusófona de Ciências da Mente e do Comportamento .1646-5245Revista Lusófona de Ciências da Mente e do ComportamentoThe use of condoms in sexual relations involving penetration is the only efficient preventive measure to avoid HIV sexual transmission and other sexually spread diseases. Increasing its adequate and systematic use is therefore the Target of prevention schemes meant to diminish risks in sexual activities, especially in teenagers and young adults, where the highest level of infection is being carried out. The aim of this work is to evaluate the level of use of male condom and to identify the main knowledge and actitudes beliefs linked to its use in a sample of 389 university youngsters (66.1% girls and 33.9% boys), in their first year in Ourense Campus (University of Vigo) with an average age of 19.04. The results show that 45% of the sexually active students use condoms systematically, with no significantly diferences between boys and girls in its use. Most sexual relations of the youngsters in this sample have to do with affective relations and the use of birth control pills take the place of condoms,the more regular the relation becomes . The views which are more linked to a systematic use of condoms are those which are related to its perception as an useful anticonceptive and something useful to have sex without taking any risk. Otherwise, if we evaluated those functions separetely, the results show a high level of students that use the condom to previne pregnancy (31%) than those who used it to previne sexual diseases (3,1%). Those differences should appear in prevention programs to increase condoms use in teenagers´sexual relations.application/pdfspaopenAccessPSICOLOGIACOMPORTAMENTOS SEXUAIS DE RISCOSEXUALIDADE JUVENILJOVENSESTUDOS DE CASODOENÇAS SEXUALMENTE TRANSMISSÍVEISPSYCHOLOGYSEXUAL RISK BEHAVIOURSYOUTH SEXUALITYYOUNG PEOPLECASE STUDIESSEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES