Abstract:
Consistent and correct use of condoms remains an effective way to tackling sexually transmitted infection including HIV. Understanding the predictors of condom use that underlies individual and societal attitude towards condom use can contribute to the uptake of condoms as an important public health strategy for HIV prevention in Ghana. An exploratory cross-sectional study on condom use was conducted among sexually active men aged between 15 and 49 years in the Lower Manya Municipality in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods, the study explored the relationship between condom use and individual and environmental factors, knowledge and perception of condoms.
Educational level, (OR= 1.107, 95%CI [0.95-1.27], P= 0.164) having Children (OR= 3.28, 95%CI [1.74-6.19], P= 0.000) and Occupation (OR= 1.047, 95%CI [0.954- 1.143], P= 0.331) were the factors that remained in the multivariate stepwise regression model after adjusting for other covariates at significant level of 0.05. 53.33% males have more than one sexual partner and also males who sought help from their sexual partners in putting on condoms were 1.5 times more likely to have condom slip or break during sexual intercourse. The qualitative results indicates that, reason for condom use by the youth was based on perceived risk of pregnancy first, then vulnerability to STI`s. It also points religion and societal norms as barriers of condom acceptability. HIV/STI prevention strategies and interventions that aim to promote condom use should consider these identified factors that influence condom use in Ghana and consider them in interventions. Interventions to promoting condom use must not only be based on of susceptibility and severity of HIV and effectiveness of condoms in preventing HIV infection but the focus should be on total health issues including reproductive health and healthy family planning methods, healthy childbirth, and prevention of STIs in general.
