Predictors of Consistent Condom Use among Secondary School Male Students in Mbonge Subdivision of Rural Cameroon

Abstract

Correct and consistent condom use during sexual intercourse remains the most effective protection against sexual transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) for sexually active young adults, who are hardest hit by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. This study uses data from secondary school male students in Mbonge subdivision of rural Cameroon, to determine the most significant predictors of consistent condom use, using the main components of the Health Belief Model (HBM). A disproportional, stratified simple random sampling technique was used to obtain a representative sample of 210 male respondents. A cross-sectional correlational design was adopted, collecting data using a self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20 software program. Majority of the respondents, 65.8% reported having ever had sex, of whom only 30.5% reported using condoms consistently. Multinomial logistic regression analysis based on the HBM components showed that perceived susceptibility to HIV/AIDS (p=0.007; Pseudo R-square=0.223); perceived severity of HIV/AIDS (p=0.000; Pseudo R-square=0.382); perceived benefit of condom use (p=0.005; Pseudo R-square=0.144); perceived condom use self-efficacy (p=0.006; Pseudo R-square=0.223) and socio-demographic variables (p=0.012; Pseudo R-square=0.534), were the most significant predictors of consistent condom use at the level p<0.05. The findings suggest that AIDS education programs to increase condom use for males in rural Cameroon should emphasize these five components of the HBM concurrently. HIV/AIDS education messages that focus on barriers to condom use as a means of inducing and maintaining consistent condom use may be counterproductive.