SEXUAL PARTNER CHANGE AND CONDOM USE AMONG URBAN FACTORY-WORKERS IN NORTHWEST TANZANIA

Objective-To describe sexual partner change and condom use at the inta ke of a cohort study of urban factory workers in Tanzania. Methods-Fro m October 1991 to March 1992, 926 male and 170 female factory workers were interviewed using a structured, pre-coded questionnaire. Question naire reliability was assessed by pre-testing and comparison with resu lts of unstructured interviews and carrying out repeat questionnaires on a sub-sample. Results-Almost half of both men and women had had sex ual intercourse by their 17th birthday. The period of premarital sex h ad an interquartile range of 2 to 10 years in men and 0 to 2.5 years i n women. Having had sexual intercourse in the past month with more tha n one partner was reported by 22% of the men and 5% of the women. Fact ors associated with multiple partners in men were being born in or nea r Mwanza Region, having low education and low income, and being marrie d. Condoms had been used in the past month by 3% only, mainly with cas ual partners. Condom use in men was associated with being young, livin g in town, being born in Kagera Region, high education and high income , being circumcised, and having casual or steady (non-marital) partner s. Conclusion-Information, education and communication (IEC) on sexual relationships and condom use should start at an early age, and includ e education at primary schools. Much sexual partner change appears to occur through steady (non-marital) partnerships, indicating the need f or IEC to be expanded beyond groups such as commercial sex workers and their clients.