Determinants of condom use among young men in Uganda

Abstract

The study aims to identify the determinants of condom use among young men in Uganda. This is because the HIV related figures and STIs have hampered the growth within the country, necessitating an immediate response to curb the situation. To identify the determinants, three specific objectives were examined; relationship between demographic factors and condom use; the relationship between socio-economic factors and condom use. Lastly was the relationship between a respondent's knowledge towards HIV and condom use. The study used secondary data which was collected by UBOS in the year of 2016. A cross sectional study design was used during the period of data collection. The data obtained was presented in three levels that is say the univariate analysis, bivariate analysis and multi-variate analysis. At univariate level, results indicate that most of the respondents were 19-24 years of age, majority of the respondents were never in union. Similarly, it was clear that most of the respondents had attained secondary level of education, and very few had never been in school. Furthermore, study indicates that majority of the respondents’ dwell in the rural Uganda and 95.5% had their age at first sex between 5-24 years. As compared to other religions, Anglicans were more as compared to other religion in the country. At the bi-variate analysis, results indicate that; age, residence, education level, age at first sex, number of sexual partners last 12 months and HIV/AIDS related knowledge index had no significant relationship with condom use since their respective p-values are greater than 0.05 at (95%) level of significance. On the other hand, marital status and religion had positive and significant association with condom use since the p-values were less than 0.05 at (95%) level of significance. From the Logistic, it can be inferred that men with two sexual partners are more likely to be condom users. The researcher recommends the government to rely more on resources for supporting girlchild/women education since the less educated women have no perceived self-efficacy to demand for condom use from their husbands/partners hence husband less likely to consistently use condoms. The government should also seek to encourage men to always use a condom with all their partners since number of partners has a positive bearing on consistent condom use. For purposes of further study, future research should focus on factors associated not only on consistent condom use among men but also consistent use among males and female adolescents.