Predictors of condom use intention among senior high school students in the Hohoe Municipality, Ghana using the theory of planned behaviour

Abstract

ABSTRACT Consistent condom use remains the most important means of HIV prevention among the sexually active. Compared to the Ghana national HIV prevalence rate of 1.7%, the Hohoe Municipality has a prevalence rate of 3.4%. This study identified the predictors of condom use intention among senior high school (SHS) students in the Hohoe Municipality using the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). A cross-sectional design was employed using a structured questionnaire to collect data from a multistage sample of 270 SHS students in January 2019. Logistic regression was performed using the Stata version 14.0 at the 0.05 level of significance. Regarding attitudes towards condom use, those who had a negative attitude regarding sexually transmitted infections were 10 times more likely to have the intention to use a condom than those with a positive attitude [AOR = 9.94 (95% CI: 1.55 to 63.80; p = 0.010)] and students who had a negative perception of risky sexual behaviour were 36 times more likely to have the intention to use a condom than those with a positive perception [AOR = 36.16 (95% CI: 2.35–555.19; p = 0.016)]. Regarding perceived behavioural control, those who believed that HIV can be prevented by using a condom were 20 times more likely to have condom use intention than those who did not believe [AOR = 20.12 (95% CI: 2.17–186.72; p = 0.008)]. Health promotion interventions to improve condom use should focus on improving their attitudes towards condoms and giving them skills that will improve their control over condom use.