Psychosocial correlates of condom usage in a developing country

ychosocial correlates of condom usage in a developing country Original Research (4352) Total Article Views Authors: Paul A Bourne, Christopher AD Charles, Cynthia G Francis, et al Published Date July 2010 Volume 2010:1 Pages 61 - 71 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/OAJC.S11800 Paul A Bourne1, Christopher AD Charles2, Cynthia G Francis1, Maxwell S Williams3, Neva South-Bourne1, Samuel McDaniel3 1Department of Community Health and Psychiatry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica; 2King Graduate School, Monroe College, 2375 Jerome Avenue, Bronx, New York, USA; 3Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica Abstract: This study examines the psychosocial factors accounting for condom usage during the last sexual episode for males, females, and the general population aged 15–49 years, and the psychosocial factors accounting for frequency of condom usage in Jamaica. Logistic regression models were estimated using data collected in 2004 by the Jamaica Ministry of Health. Sixty-nine percent of the sample indicated that they had used a condom in the past, but only 31% reported that they had always used a condom in the previous 12 months, compared with 16.5% who reported “most times”, 21.4% who reported “sometimes”, and 31% who reported “never”. Five variables emerged as statistically significant factors for the last time males used a condom (χ2 = 128.76, P < 0.001), four variables for females (χ2 = 75.45, P < 0.001), and five variables for the general population (χ2 = 200.84, P < 0.001). The three most significant factors which correlated with frequency of condom usage in the previous 12 months with a current partner, in descending order, were condom usage during the first act of sexual intercourse with a current sexual partner, self-efficacy, and marital status. These findings are discussed within the general context of understanding condom usage, frequency of condom usage among Jamaicans, and how these can aid public health intervention programs.