Sexual Network and Condom Utilization in Rural Community Around jimma town, South West Ethiopia
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Date
2004-05
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Addis Abeba Universty
Abstract
HIV/AIDS is a serious problem in Ethiopia. It is estimated that there are 2.6 million people
infected by the virus. The sexual network pattern like multiple partners, rapid partner change,
frequent sexual intercourse and un protected sex were said to be the major source which facilitate
HIV/AID transmission. The wider the contacts and numbers of partners, the more quickly the
virus will spread. However, the rate of increase is different in urban and rural parts of the
country. Although, Sexual networking and level of condom use with different partners were
among the major causes in HIV/AIDS transmission, the majority of the studies on HIV/AIDS
and condom use have very much limited themselves in big urban centers. There is a lack of
community-based studies focused on rural community. Thus, this study aimed at investigating
the sexual network and condom utilization in rural community around Jimma town.
Objective: To assess the sexual network and condom utilization of rural community around
Jimma town.
Method: A cross-sectional study using both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods
were conducted between November and December 2003, in ten rural kebeles around Jimma
town. Quantitative data were collected from 846 (423 male & 423 female) using pre-tested
questionnaire. Four focus group discussion (2 male &2 female) and 16 In-depth interviews were
also conducted to enrich the quantitative data.
Result: Sexual network was observed among male group in merchants, drivers and ex-solders.
Commercial sex workers, tella sellers and student girls were involved among females. More
male (33.1%) engaged in extra- marital relation ship than female (2.8%)..Condom use with
commercial partner (76%) was higher than with non-regular and regular partner. Literate people
were found to be more user of condom (16.5%) than illiterate (1.2%). Educational status, sex,
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occupational status and marital status were found significantly associated with condom use and
extra-marital relationship. Being nearer to town with continuous transport was found not to have
significant association with condom use and extra marital relationship. Although, knowledge of
condom HIV/AIDS and STDS were found higher in both study population, there is a great gap
observed between knowledge of condom and use(92.7%, 17.7%) respectively.
Conclusion: Sexual network was observed in this study. Men were highly involved in sexual
networking than females. Despite higher knowledge of condom its utilization was low. The
major reasons mentioned were not trust condom, unavailability, makes man impotent, decrease
sexual pleasure, and lack of practical knowledge in applying condom. We conclude that the
higher knowledge of condom, which was observed by the study subjects didn’t help them to
avoid the above misconception. Thus the observed low utilization could be the result of
misconception. There fore, this study recommends filling the identified gap in the awareness and
utilization of condom.
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Sexual Network and Condom Utilization in Rural Community