Evaluation of Condom Use among University Undergraduates in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

摘要

Background: Barrier contraception has the beauty of dual protection--against pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Following the persisting burden of unsafe abortion and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), much sensitization/campaign has been ongoing in the past few decades by government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Nigeria against unprotected sexual intercourse. The youth are generally assumed to have high risk sexual behaviour, hence this study on Port Harcourt university undergraduates. Objectives: To determine the awareness and use of condom among University undergraduates in Port Harcourt. Methods: The study was a prospective descriptive cross-sectional study of 636 undergraduate students of the University of Port Harcourt and Rivers state University, South-south Nigeria. The multistage sampling technique was used to randomly select participants and data collected using a pretested structured self administered questionnaire. Data was analyzed using version 23.0 SPSS and reported in means, frequencies and percentages. Probability value was set at 5% (p 0.05) at a confidence interval of 95%. Result: Majority of the undergraduates (58.4%) had their first sexual intercourse at 19 years. A total of 580 (97.8%) and 467 (78.9%) were aware of male and female condoms respectively. However, a statistically significant number of sexually active undergraduates had unprotected sexual intercourse (p 0.001; ~2 = 200.602). Only 5.5% of the respondents in this study were willing to know their HIV status. Conclusion: There is a high level of condom awareness among Port Harcourt University undergraduates. Surprisingly, their practice of unprotected sexual intercourse is still high.