Determinants of condom-use behaviour among STD clinic attenders in South Africa

This cross-sectional study analyses determinants of condom-use behaviour am ong patients attending dedicated STD clinics in South Africa. A structured interviewer-administered survey was conducted among 1473 patients. Patients ' beliefs and attitudes towards condom use in general, as well as their per sonal condom-use behaviour were measured. Their perceptions, regarding the social influence of their partners and friends on their condom use, and of their self-efficacy in using condoms, while infected with an STD were also measured. Condom use, as a dependent variable, was examined and patients were placed in a pre-contemplation stage if they had never used a condom, contemplation if they had seriously thought of using a condom, some action stage if they sometimes used a condom and regular action stage if they used a condom eve ry time. The relationships between the stages of change, as dependent variables, and the independent variables were investigated for both those patients with s teady partners and those with outside partners. This was performed by stepw ise multiple regression analyses. The variables that significantly explained stages of change were similar fo r patients with steady partners and those with outside partners. In both pa rtner groups communication was the variable most strongly associated with t he use of condoms. General self-efficacy in condom use, self-efficacy in co ndom use with a partner and attitudes towards the use of condoms played a r ole in determining patients' different stages of change.