Condom-promotion programme among slum-dwellers in Chandigarh, India.
This study describes high-risk behaviour and condom usage in inhabitants of an urban slum in the Union Territory of Chandigarh, which has a population of about 20,000. A cohort of 375 participants was followed-up before and after an intervention. Half of the married but only one-eighth of the unmarried slum dwellers were using condoms regularly. One-quarter of the study subjects practised high-risk behaviour and this was higher among unmarried (44.88%) than married participants (18.7%). An intervention involving education on condom use and provision of free condoms increased the condom usage rate from 31.73% in the pre-intervention phase to 60% in the postintervention phase.
Bhatia
V
V
Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, College Building, Sector 32-A, Chandigarh 160047, India. drbhatiav@yahoo.com
Swami
H M
HM
Parashar
A
A
Justin
T R
TR
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011204:Poverty Areas; D012309:Risk-Taking; D014505:Urban Population