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Ghana, west-africa: National level data on barriers to condom use
Methods: Condom use patterns and perceptions of barriers to condom use were assessed using a 72-item questionnaire including items from the Condom Barrier Scale (CBS). CBS constructs include; partner-barriers, effect of condom use on sexual experience, access/availability and motivational barriers. Chi-square tests examined the relationship between selected demographic variables and CBS items.
Results: Selected results - Education was significantly associated with knowing where to get/buy a condom, X2 (6, N=5860)=409.10, p<0.001. Respondents with no education (20.7%) were more likely to not know where to buy a condom compared to respondents with secondary-education (4.4%) or tertiary-education (2.7%). Gender was significantly associated with being afraid to suggest condom use to partner, X2 (2, N=5830)=78.59, p<0.001. Female respondents (28.6%) were more likely to agree/strongly agree to be afraid to suggest condom use than males (18.1%). Gender was also significantly associated with the perception that condoms fell unnatural, X2 (2, N=5819)=24.91, p<0.001. Male respondents (53.4%) were more likely to agree/strongly agree that condoms feel unnatural than female respondents (49.4%).
Conclusion: In addition to highlighting several key, but varying barriers to condom use, this study provides necessary first-ever national level baseline data on barriers to condom use. It allows for more in-depth theory-based examination to better understand the relationship between identified barriers and condom use in Ghana.
Learning Areas:
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or controlLearning Objectives:
Identify the complex barriers to condom use among Ghanaians
Keyword(s): International Health, HIV Risk Behavior
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: As a Ph.D student i have had the experience of being the research assistant on the current content and other like projetcs. Prior to that, i worked as a project officer at West African Project to Combat AIDS & STI(WAPCAS) in Ghana- West Africa so i bring that experience to bear on this content.The current abstract also falls in my area of research(Risky Health Behaviors).
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.