Psychosocial predictors of condom use among Mozambican women at sexual risk

Abstract

Background: Heterosexual encounters remain the primary route of HIV/Aids and other sexually transmitted infections (STI) in Africa. Consistent condom use is the most effective method of HIV prevention. However, this preventive behavior not as successful as desired, because it is often associated with negative meanings attributed to sexual acts, and to condom preparation and negotiation. This paper aims to identify psychosocial predictors associated with condom use in Mozambican women at sexual risk. Methods: Women (173), patients at a Gynecology clinic and at risk for STI infection, completed measures of condom use negotiation self-efficacy, perceived barriers against safer sex, and condom use. Results: Regression results show that socio-demographic variables explained 14.5% of the variance (∆F(2, 170)=14.39, p < .001) and marital variables explained 19% of additional variance (∆F(2, 168)=24.01, p < .001). Women who were younger (β = -.27), and had a higher level of education (β = .19), used condoms more frequently. Regarding marital variables, women who were single (and living alone) (β = -.34), and talked more about HIV/Aids with partners (β = .25) presented higher levels of condom use. The final model, with condom use negotiation self-efficacy in step 3, explained 21.2% of additional variance in condom use (∆F(1, 167)= 78.29, p < .001). Conclusions: These results seem to support an exploratory predictive model of condom use that can inform interventions directed at behavioral change among Mozambican women at sexual risk.