Patterns of Perceived Risk and Condom Use among Adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa

Background: In sub-Saharan African (SSA), adolescents are confronted with multiple behavioral, physiological and socio-cultural factors that contribute to their sexual health vulnerability. While studies have examined factors associated with condom use behaviors, few have assessed risk perception and condom use among SSA adolescents. This work sought to understand the profiles of these adolescent.

Methods: Data for this study are derived from the National Survey of Adolescents (2004-2005), a survey of 12-19 year olds in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Malawi, and Uganda. Data were accessed through the Interuniversity Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR). Latent class analysis was conducted.

Results: Three risk profiles (one condom use sub-group) emerged in the data. Percent of adolescents in the condom use sub-groups ranged from 6.8% - 17.2%. Those in the condom use class were more likely to rate themselves as "very worried" about pregnancy and report knowing someone who had died of AIDS. Urbanicity was a factor (1.82 - 4.82 times more likely) in being classified a condom user in Burkina Faso and Uganda; adolescents who were older were 2.12 - 2.3 times more likely to be condom using. Findings by gender varied.

Conclusion: The findings from this study provide additional information regarding the factors that influence condom use among adolescents in these four countries. Important known correlates, including age and urbanicity should continue to be studied; more work is needed to understand the role of gender and the importance of health beliefs in condom use decision-making among SSA adolescents.