Sexual Risk History and Condom Use among People Living with HIV/AIDS in Ogun State, Nigeria

Introduction. The majority of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections are acquired through unprotected sex between partners; only male or female condoms can reduce the chances of infection with HIV during a sexual act. Aim. This study was therefore designed to describe sexual risk history and identify factors associated with condom use among people living with HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) (PLWHAs) in Ogun State, Nigeria. Main Outcome Measures. Main outcome measures are sexual and HIV risk history, safe sex practices, and condom use. Methods. This study is an analytical cross-sectional study. A total sample of all people living with HIV/AIDS attending secondary health facilities in Ogun State were recruited into the study. Result. A total of 637 were interviewed; median age at first sexual intercourse among the study participants was 19 years (mean age = 18.95, standard deviation [SD] = 4.148) with a median of two lifetime sexual partners (mean = 3.22, SD = 3.57). Majority (71.4%) of the respondents had not been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection other than HIV. Precisely 47.7% of men and 52.3% of women had two or more sexual partners in the last 6 months. Men were statistically significantly more likely to have multiple sexual partners when compared with women (P = 0.00). Significantly more women (69.8%) than men (30%) had sexual partners whose HIV status they did not know (P = 0.006). Predictors of condom use were individuals who had multiple sexual partners (odds ratio [OR] = 1.41, confidence interval [CI] = 1.05-1.83) and married (OR = 3.13, CI = 1.15-8.51) with higher level of education (OR = 2.78, CI = 1.39-5.79), with knowledge of partner's serostatus (OR = 2.53, CI = 1.50-4.28), and awareness of reinfection (OR = 1.90, CI = 1.22-2.95). Conclusion. The study indicates that the establishment of effective safe sex practices and condom use behavior among PLWHAs in low-income countries such as the study population requires adequate health education on the transmission of HIV/AIDS and the understanding of the dynamics of family life and gender issues. Amoran O and Ladi-Akinyemi T. Sexual risk history and condom use among people living with HIV/AIDS in Ogun State, Nigeria. J Sex Med 2012; 9: 997-1004.