Predictors of condom use among patients with sexually transmitted disease in Uganda

Background and objective: Patients with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are at an increased risk of HIV infection and they must be targeted for increased condom use. goal : to identify predictors of condom use among patients with STDs. Study Design : in a cross-sectional survey; an interview-ad-ministered questionnaire was administered to 138 patients at the STD clinic; Mulago; and the outpatients department; Mbarara Hospital; in Uganda. Data were collected on socio-demographic situations; STD symptoms; type of sexual partners; and use of condoms. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify independent predictors of condomuse. Results: of the 138 patients; 87(66) knew how to use condoms; 81(59) every used a condom; 34(25) used a condom at least once in the previous 3 months; 20(15) used a condom at least once in the previous 3 months; 20(15) used a condom during the last sexual intercourse; and 80 (58) accepted a free supply of condoms. Reasons for not using condoms among the 57 who had never were: having a regular partner or spouse (28; 49) accepted a free supply of condoms. Reasons for not using condoms among the 57 who had never were: having a regular partner or spouse (28; 49);partner does not approve (17;30); reduced sexual pleasure (5;9); and no answer (7;12). The independent predictors of condom use were: being a man; not having a regular partner; having had sex with a casual partner; being able to read eng; having at least secondary education; and using electricity for lighting. Conclusion: Providing health promotion measures in local languages may improve condom use in this population. There is a need for complementary HIV prevention strategies for women and for regular sexual partnerships

Psycho-social determinants for sexual partner referral in Uganda : quantitative Results

The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors influencing sexual partner referral using the attitude-social influence - self efficacy model as a guiding theoretical. The data was collected in an interview survey with 236 women and 190 men attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic in Kampala; Uganda. Intention; attitude; subjective norm; self-efficacy; and past behaviour predicted partner referral for women whereas intention; self efficacy; and previous behaviour predicted partner referral for men. For the women the strongest predictors for intention were self-efficacy followed by partner type and self efficacy. Social influence was a better predictor of intention for women than for men. An analysis of underlying cognitive beliefs discriminating those who referred and those who did not refer the sexual partner showed that attitudinal beliefs were the most important for men whereas self-efficacy beliefs were the most important for women. The targeting of the gender based descriminatory beleifs in intervention may improve compliance with sexual partner referral