Zimbabwean adolescents' condom use: what makes a difference? Implications for intervention.
OBJECTIVE
To examine risk and resilience factors at multiple ecological levels related to Zimbabwean adolescents' practice of protected or unprotected sex.


METHODS
Data were collected from adolescents in eight secondary schools in Zimbabwe. A 140-item instrument designed by the authors assessed adolescent perceptions, behaviors, and attitudes. Youth who had engaged in sexual intercourse (n = 730) were included in analyses. Risk and resilience factors related to self, peer, family, and community domains were examined. Data were analyzed separately by gender using discriminant analysis to identify factors that predict whether youth engage in safe or unsafe sex.


RESULTS
Boys who engaged in safe sex were older, more likely to report their parents were there when needed, spent more time in extracurricular activities, and reported a lower drop out likelihood. Girls who engaged in safe sex worried about HIV/AIDS more than those who engaged in unsafe sex.


CONCLUSIONS
Although both boys and girls need medically correct sexuality education, including education on HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), the findings suggest that such education is not enough. Program planners must consider the influences of multiple ecological levels. Gender differences raise several issues for intervention.
Betts
Sherry C
SC
Division of Family Studies and Human Development, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA.
Peterson
Donna J
DJ
Huebner
Angela J
AJ
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D021841:Safe Sex / Q000523:psychology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015030:Zimbabwe