Condom Use for Dual Protection Among Youth in Africa

With the emergence of HIV/AIDS as a major health issue in high fertility countries of Africa, a high and growing number of individuals in these countries face the risks of both unwanted pregnancy and HIV/STI infections. In recent years, efforts have been made to reduce both of these risks through the promotion of dual protection approaches. In this paper, we define dual protection as a simultaneous protection from both pregnancy and HIV/STI infection.

Initially promoted in Africa as a pregnancy-prevention method, the HIV epidemic has drawn greater attention to the HIV/STI infection prevention benefits of condom use. Beside abstinence and being faithful to a non-infected partner, condom use remains the only other effective means of preventing sexually transmitted HIV/STI infection. Many countries now promote condom use for pregnancy and HIV prevention.

The objective of this study is to assess the relative roles of the desire to prevent pregnancy and the desire to prevent HIV in condom use among sexually active unmarried youth in Africa. Using DHS data, we will examine condom use among sexually active unmarried youth in selected African countries. Preliminary results show: (i) significant increases in the proportions of sexually active youth using contraceptive methods over time; (ii) significant increases in the proportions of youth using condoms over time; and, (iii) that, overtime, the method mix has changed significantly in favor of condom among the youth.