Prevalence of inconsistent condom use and associated factors among HIV discordant couples in a rural county in China.
A random sample consisting of 88 sexually active people living with HIV (PLWH) and their HIV negative spouses in rural China were interviewed. Data of 68 couples (77.2 %) who gave identical responses to whether they had been using condoms consistently in the last 12 months (n = 136) were analyzed. The results showed that 27.9 % of the discordant couples used condom inconsistently in the last year. Condom non-availability was the most commonly given main reason for not using condoms. Free condoms should be made available to these low-income couples. Suicidal ideation of the PLWH and the spouse's perception on 'whether someone could contract HIV via unprotected sexual intercourse with a HIV positive person' were significantly associated with inconsistent condom use in the last year. Education program should change the cognition about the risk for HIV transmission via unprotected sex. Integrated psychological services to reduce suicidal ideation are greatly warranted.
Center for Health Behaviours Research, School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 5/F, School of Public Health and Primary Care, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, People's Republic of China. jlau@cuhk.edu.hk
Joseph T F
JT
Lau
Xiaonan
X
Yu
Winnie W S
WW
Mak
Yimin
Y
Cheng
Yanhong
Y
Lv
Jianxin
J
Zhang
Xiaoyou
X
Su
Zixin
Z
Wang
D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data