Factors influencing condom use among Nigerian undergraduates: A mixed method study

Abstract

Objective: This study’s objective was to explore and assess the factors influencing condom use among Nigerian undergraduates within the age group 16-34 years.
Setting: The University of Lagos, a federal University in the commercial capital of Nigeria.
Study design: Both qualitative (focus group discussions) and quantitative (cross-sectional survey) methods were utilised for this study.
Subjects: A total of 101 subjects were recruited with age range 18 to 34 years as against 100 years, with a mean age of 21 years. Data collection was conducted in July and August 2011 at the University of Lagos.
Subjects: A total of 820 students from University of Lagos in four faculties participated in the cross-sectional survey, and we organised four focus group discussions with six students each.
Results: Students were of the perception that various socio-economic and environmental factors influenced condom use during sexual intercourse. Factors identified as having great influence on condom use include: “adequate sex education” and “unplanned/ unanticipated sexual intercourse”. Conversely, the influence of alcohol/social drugs on condom use was ranked low.
Conclusion: The study showed that students had the perception that various factors influenced condom use but these perceptions varied between young men and women. It may therefore be rewarding to have customised messages based on specific needs when reaching out to different groups stratified based on gender.

Keywords: Condom, unsafe sex, HIV, gender, undergraduates.