Sexual risk history and condom use among people living with HIV/AIDS in Ogun State, Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: The majority of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections are acquired through unprotected sex between partners; only male or female condoms can reduce the chances of infection with HIV during a sexual act.

AIM: This study was therefore designed to describe sexual risk history and identify factors associated with condom use among people living with HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) (PLWHAs) in Ogun State, Nigeria.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Main outcome measures are sexual and HIV risk history, safe sex practices, and condom use.

METHODS: This study is an analytical cross-sectional study. A total sample of all people living with HIV/AIDS attending secondary health facilities in Ogun State were recruited into the study.

RESULT: A total of 637 were interviewed; median age at first sexual intercourse among the study participants was 19 years (mean age = 18.95, standard deviation [SD] = 4.148) with a median of two lifetime sexual partners (mean = 3.22, SD = 3.57). Majority (71.4%) of the respondents had not been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection other than HIV. Precisely 47.7% of men and 52.3% of women had two or more sexual partners in the last 6 months. Men were statistically significantly more likely to have multiple sexual partners when compared with women (P = 0.00). Significantly more women (69.8%) than men (30%) had sexual partners whose HIV status they did not know (P = 0.006). Predictors of condom use were individuals who had multiple sexual partners (odds ratio [OR] = 1.41, confidence interval [CI] = 1.05-1.83) and married (OR = 3.13, CI = 1.15-8.51) with higher level of education (OR = 2.78, CI = 1.39-5.79), with knowledge of partner's serostatus (OR = 2.53, CI = 1.50-4.28), and awareness of reinfection (OR = 1.90, CI = 1.22-2.95).

CONCLUSION: The study indicates that the establishment of effective safe sex practices and condom use behavior among PLWHAs in low-income countries such as the study population requires adequate health education on the transmission of HIV/AIDS and the understanding of the dynamics of family life and gender issues.