Risk perception and condom use in Uganda

Uganda is one of the countries most hit by HIV/AIDS, so what are people’s perception of risk and how does this translate to condom use in Uganda? This study, based on respondents drawn from Kabale, Kampala and Lira districts, attempts to investigates these issues.

The paper finds that:

• HIV risk perception was found to be associated with condom use, religion, educational attainment, marital status, residence, number of sexual partners and having contracted an STD
• predictors of high HIV risk perception were non users of condoms, rural residence, having ever engaged in sex for gain and ever discussed sex
• mistrust of partners, past social history, having many sexual partners, and having undergone blood transfusion are the main reasons why people consider themselves at risk of contracting HIV
• 46% of males and 27% of females had ever used condoms
• respondents who do not consider themselves at risk of contracting HIV and those who have never contracted STDs were less likely to use condoms
• respondents who had ever engaged in gainful sex were more likely to use condoms than those who engage in sex for pleasure
• post-primary education and urban residence are strong contributors to condom use

The paper concludes that:

• the way people perceive themselves either at risk or not at risk of contracting HIV determines their sexual behaviour patterns
• high risk perception is associated with condom use particularly with casual sexual partners among men
• HIV/AIDS initiatives need to address aspects of condom negotiation among females to reduce their vulnerability to HIV infection
• as post primary education and urban residence were found to be significant predictors of condom use, this implies the need for government and development partners to encourage education beyond primary school and to extend service delivery particularly condom distribution to the rural areas of the country