Consistent condom use with different types of partners: Evidence from two Nigerian surveys

HIV prevalence in Nigeria is increasing rapidly. Increased condom use is th e most viable solution to slow down or reverse this trend. This article use s data from two waves of a nation-wide survey, each with over 5,000 respond ents, to examine factors that influence consistency of condom use with vari ous types of partners. The results show that while the overall level of con sistent condom use has remained low, reported consistent condom use with oc casional partners and commercial sex workers exceeds 60%. There is also som e evidence of an increasing trend in consistent condom use, even after cont rolling for differences in sample composition and other factors. The most i mportant factors affecting consistency of condom use are awareness that con doms are effective at preventing HIV and that they are effective at prevent ing unwanted pregnancy, concern about unwanted pregnancy, and concern about HIV. although concern about unwanted pregnancy has a strong effect on cons istency of condom use with stable partners, concern about HIV infection has a strong effect on consistency of condom use with nonstable partners. The results suggest that HIV prevention programs need to do more than provide e ducation about the modes of transmission and the ways to prevent infection. Improving the effectiveness of HN prevention programs is likely to require focusing more explicitly on people's personal risk perception and condom e fficacy. Focusing on these topics may further accelerate the observed posit ive trend in condom use.