Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards Condom Utilization among Patients Enrolled on Antiretroviral Therapy: Case of Mokoni Health Centre, Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

The burden of HIV/AIDS high in sub-Saharan countries which constitutes two third of globe and is worst in Ethiopia. Therefore identifying determinants of consistent condom use in HIV patients who are on ART had paramount importance in the prevention and control of the diseases. A little is known about the practice of condom use among HIV positive patients. The aimed of this study was to assess knowledge, attitude and practice towards condom utilization among people living with HIV/AIDS enrolled on ART in Mokoni town. An institutional based cross sectional study was conducted among ART users in Mokoni health center from June-august 2013. Data on the study variables was gathered using semi-structured questionnaire. After the subject was asked for their volunteer participation, then we collected data using interview. Descriptive statistics was used to determine the frequency and percentage of different variables. Data was presented in the form of tables and graphs. From the total study participants 177(56.73%) were females. Among 312 participants 35(11.22%) of them had knowledge about people on ARV can’t transmit the HIV virus to un infected partners ,277(88.73%) knew even people taking ARV can transmit HIV to un infected partner .From the total 312 respondents 136(43.59%) had attitudes about people on ARV tend to engage in risky sexual practice ,176(56.41%) didn’t believe people on ARV tend to engage in risky sexual practice. among the total respondents 121(38.78%) agreed that because of availability of ARV people could again engage in un protected sex, 64(20.51) agreed that it was safe to engage in unprotected sex with a person taking ARV. From 165 who were currently use Patterns of condom use among 165 who are using condom currently and 116(70.30%) were consistently used a condom. The majority of patients ART enrolled always use a condom during sexual intercourse. Significant numbers of the respondents were well confident about using condoms and attended session demonstrating about using condoms. Free and explicit discussion on safe sex and enhanced positive attitudes toward condom use should be encouraged.