Knowledge, Attitude, Practice and Determinants of Condom Use Among People Living With HIV/AIDS in Gondar University Hospital, North West Ethiopia

Abstract

Condoms offer protection against unwanted pregnancy and some sexually transmitted infections including HIV. Interventions to promote condom use are essential in efforts to slow the spread of HIV. The burden of HIV/AIDS is high in Sub-Saharan countries which constitutes two third of the globe and is worst in Ethiopia. As a strategy for prevention, condom use practice among others remains the most effective method against HIV infection. So knowing knowledge, attitude, practice and determinants of consistent condom use in HIV patients who were on ART had paramount importance in the prevention and control of the disease. The main aim of this study is to find out the level of awareness, and determinants of condom use among People Living with HIV/AIDS attending Gondar University Hospital, ART clinic. Hospital based comparative cross sectional study were conducted at Gondar university referral hospital, northwest Ethiopia. Random sampling technique was used and single population formula was applied to select 317 study participants from the ART clinic of the Hospital. A structured interview guide questionnaire first prepared in English then translated into Amharic was used to collect data. Three of the investigators were work as data collectors. A total of 317 respondents from ART experienced groups were included in the study. Female constitute 159(50.2%) and the age of the respondents ranges from 18-65 and above. About 77% of the study participants are knowledgeable and consistent condom use was reported by 78.9%. Also 35.3% of the respondents have positive attitude towards condom. This study found that PLWHA generally have a high level of condom use and knowledge on importance of condom in the prevention of unwanted pregnancies and HIV/AIDS transmission. However, more than half have negative attitude towards condom.