Condom use and associated factors among HIV-positive patients accessing care at a private tertiary health institution in the southwest, Nigeria

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice towards condom utilization and other associated factors among people living with HIV/AIDS enrolled in the Virology clinic in Babcock University Teaching Hospital (BUTH) Ilishan, Ogun state, Nigeria.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 285 ART users selected using a systematic random sampling method. The minimum sample size was estimated using the formula z²pq/d² and a 24% prevalence extracted from a previous similar study. Data were elicited using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire, analyzed using SPSS version 20, and presented as tables. The Chi-square test was used to assess associations between categorical variables. The level of significance was set at the 95% confidence interval with a p-value of 0.05.

Results: From the total respondents, 180(63.2%) were females, 93.7% had good knowledge, 141(49.5%) believed ARV prevents transmission of HIV and 144 (50.5%) strongly agreed that condom reduces sexual pleasure. Majority 254 (89.1%) were currently using condoms, 131 (46.0%) used a condom consistently, while 108 (37.9%) frequently use a condom during sexual intercourse. The Use of condoms had statistically significant associations with occupation (p<0.001), married at pre-diagnosis of HIV (p<0.001), married at post-diagnosis of HIV (p<0.001) and education (p= 0.015).

Conclusion: The majority of the respondents had good knowledge and were using condoms. Discussions on safe sex and improved positive attitudes towards condom-use should, however, be encouraged further.