title: Awareness, acceptability, and use of female condoms among university students in Nigeria: implications for STI/HIV prevention.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most university students in Nigeria are sexually active and engage in high risk sexual behaviors. The aim of this study was to assess the acceptability and use of female condoms in the context of HIV prevention in order to provide basic information that can stimulate female condom programming to promote sexually transmitted infection and HIV prevention among youths in tertiary institutions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out among 810 undergraduate students of the University of Port Harcourt from October to November 2011, using a stratified sampling method and self-administered questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of the students, 589 (72.7%) were sexually active; 352 (59.7%) reported having just one sexual partner, while 237 (40.3%) had multiple partners. The mean number of sexual partners in the past six months was 2.2 ± 0. Consistent condom use was reported among 388 (79.2%) students, 102 (20.8%) reported occasional usage, while 99 (16.8%) did not use condoms at all. Only 384 (65.2%) of the students had ever been screened for HIV. Although 723 (89.3%) were aware of female condoms, only 64(8.9%) had ever used one due to unavailability, high cost, and difficulty with its insertion. Nevertheless, 389 (53.8%) of the students expressed willingness to use them if offered, while 502 (69.4%) would recommend it to friends/peers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlights significant challenges in the use of female condoms among university students. These include unavailability, high cost, and difficulty with insertion. Therefore, deliberate efforts using social marketing strategies, appropriate youth-friendly publicity, and peer education must be exerted to provide affordable female condoms and promote usage; such efforts should target vulnerable youths in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
authors.forename: Charles I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Tobin-West
authors.forename: Omosivie
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Maduka
authors.forename: Victor N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Onyekwere
authors.forename: Adedayo O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Tella
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019111:Single-Use Internal Condom / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities