Sexual behavior and determinants of condom use among HIV/AIDS patients currently on Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART): evidence from the northeastern region of Ethiopia.

Abstract

Background: Inconsistent condom use by HIV/AIDS patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) will increase the risk of transmitting the virus to seronegative partners.
Objective: The main objective of this study was to determine the demographic, social and sexual-behavior factors associated with condom use pattern by HIV/AIDS patients on ART. Findings should be useful in designing interventions effective for increasing condom use and reducing the magnitude of this epidemic in similar communities.
Method: Data on socio-demographic characteristics and sexual behavior was collected from 337 patients on ART and analyzed for condom use pattern using an analytical cross-sectional epidemiological study design.
Results: Nearly a quarter ( 24%) of the respondents reported using condoms before they knew they were HIV infected and 62% reported using condoms after they knew of their infection. Clearly, early diagnosis of infection is an important tool in increasing condom use. Additionally, partners that regularly discussed safe sex were significantly more likely to use condoms consistently than partners that did not have these discussions. Again, this relationship shows opportunity for intervention. Although this study could not show causality, likely is if education results in partners talking about safe sex then they are more likely to use condoms regularly. Other significant findings were that those involved in single-sex partnership were more likely to use condoms than those involved in more casual relationships, and that when partners were both infected they were less likely to use condoms than when the partners were sercodiscordant or their HIV status was unknown.
Conclusion: Those education programs that may have the greatest potential for success should be those that target those individuals least likely to use condoms. Particularly important may be to increase education such that couples commonly discuss safe sex practices, and that individuals realize that positive sercoconcordant status does not negate the need for regular condom use.

Key words: cross-sectional epidemiological study; health clinics, health education, rural community, safe-sex practice,