Knowledge, attitude and practice of condom use by women of an impoverished urban area

Abstract

Objective: Assessing the adequacy of knowledge, attitude and practice of women regarding male and female condoms as STI/HIV preventive measures. Method: An evaluative Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) household survey with a quantitative approach, involving 300 women. Data collection took place between June and August 2013, in an informal urban settlement within the municipality of João Pessoa, Paraiba, Northeast Brazil. Results: Regarding the male condom, most women showed inadequate knowledge and practice, and an adequate attitude. Regarding the female condom, knowledge, attitude and practice variables were unsatisfactory. Significant associations between knowledge/religious orientation and attitude/education regarding the male condom were observed. Conclusion: A multidisciplinary team should be committed to the development of educational practices as care promotion tools in order to improve adherence of condom use. DESCRIPTORS INTRODUCTIONGiven the feminization of the HIV epidemiological profile, issues related to women's sexuality has attracted increasing attention, stressing the responsibility of users, managers and health professionals in controlling the epidemic. According to the World Health Organization, the lack of protection in sexual intercourse constitutes a significant risk factor for the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV worldwide, making condom use an essential element in reducing contamination cycles (1) . In general, women experience obstacles in using condoms, whether it is the female condom by having difficulty in handling, unavailability or access, or the male condom, usually because its use depends on the partner. In this sense, a study conducted with 80 African-American men in attempt to evaluate their response upon request for condom use concluded that issues such as masculinity/chauvinism need to be addressed with heterosexual men, in order to facilitate negotiation between sexual partners (2) . The relationship dynamics play an important role in STI contamination cycles, as some women cannot insist on condom use for various reasons, such as trusting her partner, fear of abandonment or sexual coercion caused by strong persuasion (3) . Gender relations become a determining factor for women with low sexual negotiation power on condom use, making them more vulnerable to HIV exposure (4) . In relation to single women, research has identified that this pattern of submission is no different; for those who seek serious commitment, they liked having unprotected sex with the same men with whom they had extended sexually-affective bonds (5) . In addition to gender issues, other factors are also associated with not using condoms, such as low socioeconomic and cultural levels (6) . In this scenario, poverty detriments women; not only because of the difficulty in understanding information relevant to prevention, which involves knowledge, but also the subservient role to which they are subjected for not being income providers for the family (7) . In this s...

Clinical Signs and Symptoms of Sexually Transmitted Infections Communicated in Libras

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Efeito de uma intervenção educativa na gravidez: ensaio clínico randomizado em cluster

“…(23) Studies aim to assess KAP in several populations and on different subjects, and there is the consensus that the KAP method is relevant to obtain diagnoses of examined populations, with the objective to improve the development of interventions oriented toward promoting adequate levels of knowledge, attitudes, and practices. (10,24) Researchers seek to assess the effects of interventions on the change of knowledge, attitudes, and practices using the KAP method. (10,16,23,24) Results similar to those described in the present paper have been reported.…”

“…(10,24) Researchers seek to assess the effects of interventions on the change of knowledge, attitudes, and practices using the KAP method. (10,16,23,24) Results similar to those described in the present paper have been reported.…”

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