Estimating the Prevalence and Predictors of Incorrect Condom Use Among Sexually Active Adults in Kenya: Results From a Nationally Representative Survey

Consistent condom utilization and associated factors among HIV positive clients attending ART clinic at Pawi general hospital, North West Ethiopia

Background

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) affects a highly significant number of people and is responsible for the deaths of many people in sub-Saharan African countries alone. The best prevention method for this virus is through consistent condom utilization which can help to prevent drug-resistant HIV infection and acquisition of new infection. Therefore, this study aimed to assess consistent condom utilization and associated factors among HIV-positive individuals attending an antiretroviral therapy clinic at Pawi general hospital, North West Ethiopia in 2020.

Methods

An institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted among 419 HIV-positive individuals who have follow-up in the Pawi general hospital antiretroviral therapy clinics, from January to February 2020. The study subjects were reached using a systematic sampling technique and data were collected using a pretested and structured questionnaire. Data entry and analysis were performed using epi-data version 3.1 and SPSS version 23 respectively. Binary and multivariable analyses with a 95% confidence level were performed. In the final model, variables with P < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

A total of 419 antiretroviral therapy study participants were participated in the study with a response rate of 100%. In this finding, the consistent condom utilization rate was 49.2% [95% CI: 42.2–56.5%]. After controlling for possible confounding factors, the results showed that place of residence [AOR = 2.16, 95% CI: 1.05, 4.45], marital status [AOR = 0.19, 95%CI: 0.05, 0.67], number of partners [AOR = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.07, 0.55] and level of education [AOR = 5.33, 95% CI: 1.57, 18.08] were associated factors of consistent condom utilization.

Conclusion

Consistent condom utilization among HIV-positive clients attending antiretroviral therapy clinics at Pawi general hospital was low. Residence, marital status, level of education and number of partners were significantly associated factors of consistent condom use. Health education program and counseling services should be started to increase knowledge about way of transmission and appropriate use of condoms, increase self-efficacy towards condom use and reduction in the number of sexual partners.

Consistent condom use among highly effective contraceptive users in an HIV-endemic area in rural Kenya

Background

Women of reproductive age are at the highest risk of both HIV infection and unintended pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa. Highly effective contraceptives (HECs) such as hormonal injectable and implants are widely used in this region. HECs are effective for preventing pregnancies. However, unlike condoms, HECs offer no protection against HIV. Dual-method use, or the use of condoms with HECs, is an ideal option to reduce HIV risk but is infrequently practiced. Rather, women tend not to use condoms when they use HECs and increase their HIV risk from their sexual partners. However, it remains unknown whether HIV status affects such tendency. Given the increasing popularity of HECs in sub-Saharan Africa, this study examined the association between the use of HECs and condom use among HIV-positive and negative women.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 833 sexually active women aged 18–49 years, recruited from six clinics in Siaya county, Kenya. From March to May 2017, female research assistants interviewed the women using a structured questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between HEC use and consistent condom use in the past 90 days, adjusting for potential confounders. It was also examined with regular partners (husbands or live-in partners) and non-regular partners, separately. In addition, a sub-sample analysis of HIV-negative or unknown women was conducted.

Results

In total, 735 women were available for the analysis. Among the women, 231 (31.4%) were HIV-positive. HIV-positive women were more likely to use HECs than HIV-negative or status unknown women (70.1% vs. 61.7%, p = 0.027). HEC use was significantly associated with decreased condom use with a regular partner (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.25; 95% CI 0.15–0.43, p<0.001) and a non-regular partner (AOR = 0.25; 95% CI 0.11–0.58, p = 0.001). However, compared with HIV-negative or status unknown women, HIV-positive women were more likely to use HECs and condoms consistently with a regular partner (AOR = 6.54, 95% CI 2.15–20.00, p = 0.001). Other factors significantly associated with consistent condom use included partner’s positive attitude toward contraception, partner’s HIV-positive status, high HIV risk perception, and desire for children in the future.

Conclusion

Dual-method use was limited among HIV-negative women and women who had HIV-negative partners due to inconsistent condom use. The use of HECs was significantly associated with decreased condom use, regardless of partner type and their HIV status. Due to this inverse association, HIV-negative women may increase their HIV risk from their sexual partners. Therefore, interventions should be strengthened to reduce their dual risks of HIV infection and unintended pregnancy by promoting dual-method use. Family planning services should strengthen counseling on the possible risk of HIV infection from their sexual partners and target not only women but also their partners, who may play a key role in condom use.

Male condom use, multiple sexual partners and HIV: a prospective case-control study in Kinshasa (DRC)

In the Democratic Republic of Congo no previous studies have assessed the factors associated with different patterns of condom use and with multiple sexual partners, and the association between condom use simultaneously taking into account multiple sexual partnerships, and HIV infection. We carried out a prospective case-control study. From December 2010 until June 2012, 1630 participants aged 15-49 getting HIV Voluntary Counseling and Testing in a hospital in Kinshasa were selected. Cases were new HIV diagnosis and controls were HIV-negative participants detected along the study period. We recruited 274 cases and 1340 controls that were interviewed about HIV-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviours. Among cases there was a high prevalence of multiple lifetime and concurrent sexual partnerships (89.8% and 20.4%, respectively) and most cases never used condoms with only 1.5% using them consistently. Condom use and multiple partnerships were associated with male, single and high-educated participants. An association was found between multiple lifetime partners and 'any condom use' (OR = 2.99; 95%CI: 2.14-4.19) but not with consistent use. Both having two or more multiple concurrent sexual partners or not using condoms were variables similarly and highly associated to HIV risk. The association found between having two or more concurrent sexual partners and HIV was slightly higher (OR = 3.58, 95%CI:2.31-5.56) than the association found between never condom use and HIV (OR = 3.38, 95%CI:1.15-9.93). We found a high prevalence of multiple lifetime sexual partners and an extremely high prevalence of inconsistent condom use, both strongly associated with HIV seropositivity. Local programmes would benefit from comprehensive interventions targeting all behavioural and sociocultural determinants.