Patterns and Determinants of Consistent Condom Use Among Cameroonian Soldiers

Abstract

Background: Despite numerous health promotion interventions lately conducted, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. It is reported that military personnel have a higher prevalence of HIV, compared with the general population. Condom use remains a cheap, easy-to-use, and effective device to prevent the spread of HIV. Growing evidence, however, suggests its underuse among the military personnel. Methods: The current cross sectional study included 325 consenting male and female soldiers from 8 different battalions. Characteristics of the study participants were summarized using frequencies and proportions. Associations between the studied variables were investigated using the Chi-square test of independency; P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results were presented in the form of tables and graphs. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 20.0. Results: Only 28% of the participants used condom during the last unsafe sexual contact. Over 85% of them reported that condoms were always available. Half (50%) of the participants were ashamed to buy condoms. The most commonly reasons for not using condoms were drunkenness (37.5%), trust in the sexual partner (26.5%), tobacco smoking (11.1%), not interested to use a condom (8.9%), and dislike/refusal of condom use by the partner. Main reasons of inconsistent use of condoms included drunkenness, shyness to buy condoms and unavailability in the respective battalions. Trust in sex partners, condom use/sex related stigma, and alcohol abuse were the major determinants of inconsistent condom use during unsafe sexual relations among Cameroonian soldiers. Conclusions: Unprotected sexual practice amongst Cameroonian soldiers was high. Despite the reported high availability of condoms (85%), only 28% of the study respondents used condoms during their last sexual intercourse with different partners. Consistent condom use was sub-optimal among Cameroonian military staff.

<p>Assessment of Magnitude of Consistent Condom Use and Associated Factors Among Police Force at Riot Control, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study</p>

“…23,24 Regardless of the different strategies that promote condoms developed in this country, consistent condom use is still low in the police force. 25 The probable reason for this could be the information provided is not comprehensive enough and has not been tailored to this population as this is explained by this study. The main reasons for not using condoms consistently were reduced sexual pleasure 134 (61.1%), do not trust condom102 (46%) and I was drunken 87 (38%).…”

Consistent Condom Use and Associated Factors among sexually active Military Personnel in Eastern Ethiopia: Cross-Sectional Study Design

“…This is supported by a study conducted in Cameroon, which also revealed that the main reasons for inconsistent condom use included condom use-related stigma among Cameroonian soldiers. 37 According to a study conducted among Addis Ababa military and police personnel, the perception was the main reason for condom nonuse. 29 Lower condom use was associated with the perception that condoms make sex less enjoyable, as well as negative attitudes toward condoms, according to a study conducted among the Republic of Congo Defense Force.…”