Determinants of condom use to prevent HIV infection among youth in Ghana.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the psychosocial and behavioral factors that influence condom use to reduce the risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among young men in Ghana.


METHODS
This study used a cross-sectional design in which data on a community-based sample of 601 young men, 15-24 years of age, were collected by a household survey instrument. For a conceptual framework, the study used constructs from the Health Belief Model (HBM) and Social Learning Theory (SLT) in the Ghanaian context.


RESULTS
While 65% of the sexually active male respondents had used condoms at least once, only 25% had used condoms at last intercourse. Findings from multiple logistic regression analysis indicate that perceived susceptibility to HIV infection, perceived self-efficacy to use condoms, perceived barriers to condom use, and perceived social support were significant predictors of condom use. The most important finding, however, is that perceived barriers significantly interacted with perceived susceptibility and self-efficacy. Subjects who perceived a high level of susceptibility to HIV infection and a low level of barriers to condom use were almost six times as likely to have used condoms at last intercourse, compared to others. Similarly, young men who perceived a high level of self-efficacy to use condoms and a low level of barriers to condom use were nearly three times more likely to have used condoms at last intercourse when compared to others.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that HIV prevention programs for youth should emphasize personal vulnerability to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, instill in youth the self-belief that they can use condoms any time, and address how to overcome barriers to condom use.
Adih
W K
WK
Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.
Alexander
C S
CS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D015497:HIV-1; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires