The reported quality of condom use by young adult Zimbabwean males at higher learning centres in Harare.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the level of reported quality of condom use by young adult Zimbabwean males at higher learning institutions.


METHODS
A cross sectional descriptive survey.


METHODS
Two technical colleges in Harare, Zimbabwe.


METHODS
A sample of 400 subjects (200 from each of the higher learning centres).


METHODS
Reported quality of condom use.


RESULTS
All participants were males who had at least completed 'O' levels, or the equivalent of high school. The majority of the participants were single (78.2%), while a fifth (20.2%) were married and the remaining few were separated or living with a partner. Among those who were married about one fifth had children. The majority 136 (36.8%) were Roman Catholic. The mean age of students surveyed was 24 (SD 3.5) years. The reported quality of condom use in the last 12 months in this sample was measured by four items: 24.6% reported using condoms every time; 27.7% put the condom on every time before the penis entered the vagina for the first time; 29.3% still had an erection every time they withdrew from the vagina and 26.9% held onto the condom every time they withdrew. In this study the results indicated that behaviour specific influences i.e. attitudes towards condom use, use of marijuana, the situational influences of bars, and condom self-efficacy were independently predictive of the reported quality of condom use.


CONCLUSIONS
Using the health promotion model the results indicated that marital status, having been shown how to use condoms, attitudes towards condom use and use of marijuana were all independently predictive of the reported quality of condom use.
Gava Zvinavashe
M
M
Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zimbabwe, P O Box A178, Avondale, Harare.
Rusakaniko
S
S
D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000453:epidemiology