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Background: Unsafe sex among people who know they are infected with HIV has been shown to fuel the spread of HIV through sexual transmission. Knowing the predictors of condom use among HIV positive individual will help to identify areas where intervention is needed to promote safe sex. This study aimed to identify the predictors of condom use among HIV positive individuals receiving care in a tertiary health facility in south west Nigeria.
Methods: A cross-sectional study of 578 patients enrolled at the facility comprehensive care and treatment programme was conducted. Data was collected using a semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaire. Associations were explored with the chi square test and predictors of condom use were determined using logistic regression analysis at 5% level of significance.
Results: The mean age of patients was 38.6+9.6 years, more than half (66.6%) were females, only 7.1% had no formal education, 58.7% were currently married, 22% were unemployed. In all, 427(73.9%) were sexually active out of which 324(75.9%) used condom. Spouse refusal accounted for non-condom use among13.6% of sexually active respondents. A slightly higher proportion of males 141(84.4%) used condom (p=0.01). Use of condom was by 81% of those with tertiary education (p=0.002), 84.5% of singles utilized condom (p<0.001), and 90% of patients with more than one sexual partner (p=0.001).The significant factors predicting condom use were: male sex [OR: 2 (1.1- 3.3)], primary education [OR: 2.6(1.02-6.4)], secondary education [OR: 3.7(1.5-9.2)], tertiary education [OR: 4.8(1.8-12.4)] and being single [OR: 2.8(1.02-7.9)].
Conclusions: Our findings support the evidence of unprotected intercourse among HIV positive individuals especially those without formal education and females. Inconsistent use of condom was also identified. These suggest aggressive intervention to promote condom use.