Experiences of condom use and meaning among feminist women of an urban college area of southwestern United States in 1994 were explored through ethnographic interviews. Women's disposition to use condoms coincides with the targeting of female consumers as a market for condoms. However, constraints on women's condom use are related to the meanings of condoms in the context of particular relationships, and to the meanings of condoms vis-à-vis ideas of sexuality, and to macrolevel power relations of gender. For some women condom use is an important component of self-transformation.

Alarming S.T.I’s percentages and low condom use motivated this research. Healthcare professional’s risk-behavior and attitudes towards risk-behavior were reviewed. Three hypotheses, aimed to test whether healthcare professionals working with S.T.I’s should have a different attitude, knowledge and behavior to condom use compared to healthcare professionals that did not work with S.T.I’s. Ninety-five participants working at a hospital in middle-Sweden answered a questionnaire, based on the Swedish UNGKAB09 research. Mann-Whitney analyses showed no significant difference between the two groups on knowledge, attitude and behavior. A high percentage of steady relationships, high homogeneity between groups as well the same attitudes and intentions could have been a reliability problem. The collected data was however interesting as a base for further research

The study aims to probe the perceptions and experiences of using female condoms for women living in Durban. The study probes these perceptions and experiences within the embedded socio-cultural and gendered dynamics that influence, not only the perception and understanding of the female condom, but their gendered use as well. The study was premised on the understanding that female condoms or FCs are a ‘female initiated’ prevention method in preventing unplanned pregnancy, and most importantly in protecting against, STIs and HIV/AIDS. The study also assumed that, given the feminized face of the AIDS pandemic, FCs could potentially be an empowering contraceptive tool, with which women can exercise control over their own bodies and some control within their sexual relationships; negotiating safer sex, preventing pregnancy and the transmission of STIs like HIV. Mixed methods were used to collect data, utilising methodological tools such as a questionnaire, focus groups and in-depth interviews. The study included participants from Chatsworth, Durban Central, Inanda, Lamontville, and Wentworth. / Theses (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

Thesis (MSc. (Anatomy, Faculty of Health Sciences))--University of Pretoria, 2004. / Summary in English. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 117-126).

Abstract Objectives This study investigates the patterns and levels of condom use; the determinants of condom use and of consistency of use among young adults aged 15-24 years in the Africa Centre Demographic Surveillance Area (ACDSA) in 2005. Methodology Secondary data analysis of data from three sources of surveys conducted in ACDSA in 2005 was done. A sample of 4 157 respondents was analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analysis was employed to compare determinants of condom use and of consistency of use. Results Condom use with the most recent partner in the last year was (51.7%). The main determinants of condom use were partner age difference, residence of partner and assets. Having an older partner than a same age partner was associated with less likely to use condoms (AOR=0.71 p=0.03 females, AOR=0.51 p=0.01 males). Those who were not residing with their partners were more likely to use condoms than those residing with their partners (AOR=1.62 p=0.01 females, AOR=1.61 p=0.03 males). Having more than seven assets was associated with increased chances of using condoms than those with less than seven assets (AOR=1.51 p<0.01 females, AOR=1.67 p<0.01 males). The key determinants of consistent condom use were: age, sex and type of relationship. Females were less likely to use condoms consistently (AOR=0.63 p=0.02) and growing older was associated with lower consistent condom use (AOR=0.88 p<0.01 females, AOR=0.90 p<0.01 males). Being in a marital/cohabiting relationship was associated with lower consistent condom use (AOR=0.68 p<0.01 both sexes and AOR=0.64 p=0.01 males) than those in non-marital/non-cohabiting relationship. v Conclusion Condom use differs between sexes and decreases with age probably because condoms are a male determined method, high contraception use, poor negotiation skills for condom use, need for children and formation of more stable relationships. A better socio-economic status increases condom use. Consistent condom use is lower in marital relationships and when the partner is older. This could be because of gender power inequalities in sexual relationships.

published_or_final_version / Community Medicine / Master / Master of Public Health

Introduction: Youth (15-24) have the highest prevalence of sexual transmitted infections (STI) among all the age groups and this has been attributed to high sexual risk behaviour and low condom use in this group. The use of condoms by youth is negotiated through a complex array of personal and social factors. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions of Swedish youth on the factors that affect their use of condoms to protect against STI.  Methodology: The data collection was done over a period of 3 months using semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions (FGD) and the collected data was analysed with thematic analysis. Findings: Participants perceived that different factors across intimate social circle, community and access to condoms influence the use of condoms by youth in Sweden. The lack of information from the media, embarrassment as a barrier to obtaining condoms and the influence of parents on condom use were prominent findings. Conclusion: Efforts to improve condom use by youth will benefit from exploring the different factors that inform youth’s perceptions on condom use. Opportunities for improvement identified in this study include the installation of condom vending machines, promoting condom use through the mass media and parents discussing condoms with their children.

Background: HIV/AIDS is one of the world’s most serious health challenges. Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region most heavily affected by HIV, with 69% of the people living with HIV in the world. Côte d'Ivoire has a high HIV prevalence rate and Senegal a low prevalence rate. The main research question is whether or not the HIV risk behavior of Ivorian differs from the HIV risk behavior of Senegalese in terms of selected categorical and continuous variables. In other words, if using condoms at last sexual intercourse differs between Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal. Methods: Cross-sectional data from the Measure Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS) involving 9,686 Ivorian and 18,363 Senegalese from 2005 were used. The Pearson Chi-square test were performed to determine any significant relationship between the variables across the two countries with respect to socio-demographic and HIV risky behaviors status. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to test the significance of any association between the independent and the dependent variables (Condoms used at last sexual intercourse). Throughout all the analysis performed, a p-value of 0.05 and confidence interval of 95% were used to determine any statistical significance. Results: Logistic regression models showed that Côte d’Ivoire respondents had decrease odds of using condoms during their last sexual intercourse (OR=0.7; 95% CI 0.62 - 0.79) as compared to Senegal and the difference was statistically significant at p < 0.05. In Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal, wealth and education have been consistently found to be positively associated with condoms used at last sexual intercourse. Conclusion: HIV risk behaviors seem to be associated with condoms used and marital status. The results in our study suggest a possible relation with condoms used, HIV prevalence and polygamy in Senegal, so men use condoms less frequently with marital partners. More studies need to assess the role of polygamy in the transmission and/or acquisition of HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa. Key words: HIV/AIDS, Risky behaviors, Condoms used, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal

The female condom has the potential to protect the health of millions of women at risk of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, as well as unwanted pregnancies. Increased use of the female condom and its positive impact on health is therefore substantial, particularly in the context of the growing feminisation of HIV/AIDS epidemic and high maternal mortality as well as high unmet need for contraception. However, female condoms in Swaziland do not seem to have attracted much attention. Using sex workers, this study aimed to explore the factors that facilitates and inhibits use of the female condom. Their main reasons for using the female condom were protection from sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy prevention. The qualitative interviews revealed that women like the female condom and prefer it over the male condom because it offers them more options and moreover they control its use. Other factors that facilitate its use include the fact that it can be inserted up to eight hours before intercourse and that it can be negotiated as a contraceptive. Partner objection, cultural and social beliefs, and limited availability served as barriers to the use of the device. Some women reported secret use, but a majority had to negotiate its use. Although women have to negotiate its use with their sexual partners, the fact that the female condom provides women with an independent method of protection that they can use on their own increases their ability to control their sexual health. The study indicates the potential benefits of female condom use in increasing protected sex acts. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1997. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [47]-54).