These studies demonstrate

These studies demonstrate that lower age seems to be one of the strongest predictors
of condom use. At the same time, there remain a number of obstacles to ensuring that
young people use condoms. Myths, fears and misperceptions about condoms among
young people, combined with inaccessibility to supplies, severely weaken prevention
practices among 15–24-year-olds, yet this is the age group hit hardest by the epidemic
in many settings. Structural barriers such as gender norms and roles, social stigma,
and lack of access to youth friendly health services constitute additional major factors
undermining the capacity of young people to protect themselves from HIV infection.
Top-level commitment is needed to put in place policy and programmatic interventions
aimed at young people, which back up prevention education with access to prevention
tools.