228415 Factors associated with consistent condom use, sexual abstinence, and number of sexual partners among adolescents in Malawi

Tuesday, November 9, 2010 : 3:42 PM - 4:00 PM

Helen Georgiev, MPH , College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Aurora Sanchez-Anguiano, MD, PhD , College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
HIV incidence is high among adolescents in Malawi. This analysis is the first to investigate consistent condom use with multiple sexual encounters and HIV risk perception among adolescents in Malawi. A secondary analysis was performed on a publicly accessible dataset of 4,879 adolescents aged 12-19 years. Odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (CI) were ascertained. Adolescents who knew someone with HIV/AIDS (OR=1.84, 95% CI: 1.19-2.84) were more likely to use condoms consistently. Oldest adolescents, ages 18-19 years old, (OR=0.35, 95% CI: 0.16-0.76), 15-17 year olds (OR=0.37, 95% CI: 0.17-0.79), males (OR=0.52, 95% CI: 0.34-0.80,) and those with a primary education (OR=0.62, 95% CI: 0.39-0.99) were less likely to use condoms consistently. Adolescents who perceived themselves to be at no risk (OR=2.34, 95% CI: 1.18-4.64) of contracting HIV were more likely to practice secondary abstinence. Oldest adolescents (OR=0.52, 95% CI: 0.38-0.73) and males (OR=0.50, 95% CI: 0.38-0.65) were less likely to report one partner. Adolescents attending school (OR=1.51, 95% CI: 1.18-1.92) were more likely to report one partner. HIV transmission knowledge, knowing someone who died of AIDS, and rural/urban residence were not associated with consistent condom use or number of sexual partners. Age, gender, knowing someone with HIV/AIDS, HIV risk perception, and school attendance are strongly associated with sexual behavior among adolescents in Malawi. Utilizing these findings, intervention programs can be tailored for this vulnerable group which has been overlooked. Further research should focus on applying age and gender-specific adolescent personal experiences and risk perceptions to change sexual behavior.

Learning Areas:
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Evaluate the effects of social and behavioral characteristics on sexual outcomes Describe activities which can be used in intervention programs to enact a change in the sexual behavior of adolescents

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Sexual Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I conducted all literature reviews, data analysis, and writing for this abstract.
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.

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