Reasons for inconsistent condom use by young adults in Mahalapye, Botswana
Date
2018-05
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
AOSIS
Abstract
Background: Botswana is one of the countries significantly affected by the HIV and AIDS
epidemic. Despite an extensive preventive campaign, the incidence of HIV remains high.
Condoms are an important contributor to prevention of new HIV infections, although they are
not consistently used by young adults.
Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the reasons why condoms are not consistently used
by young adults.
Setting: Mahalapye District Hospital and Airstrip Clinic, Botswana.
Method: This was a phenomenological qualitative study using individual in-depth interviews.
Eleven participants were purposively selected, including six males and five females. Data
were transcribed and analysed using the framework method.
Results: All participants acknowledged the importance of utilising condoms to prevent
unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Reasons not to use condoms were
a need to have a child, implied lack of trust or faithfulness, long-term relationships need to
please the partner and decreased pleasure. Other contributing factors were lack of knowledge
of benefits, less fear of contracting HIV and AIDS as it can now be controlled with medication,
influence of tradition, alcohol and drug abuse, peer pressure, power and gender issues and the
refusal of the partner. The female condom was largely rejected by young adults in general and
by women in particular because of its size and the perception that it is complicated to insert.
Conclusion: The current preventive campaign against HIV and AIDS needs to take cognisance
of the factors affecting decisions on the use of condoms by young adults and the obstacles to
their use, particularly the new belief that HIV and AIDS is no longer a significant concern.
Description
CITATION: Kanda, L. & Mash, R. 2018. Reasons for inconsistent condom use by young adults in Mahalapye, Botswana. African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine, 10(1):a1492, doi:10.4102/phcfm.v10i1.1492.
The original publication is available at https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm
The original publication is available at https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm
Keywords
condom use, HIV, AIDS, Condoms, Safe sex, Mahalapye District Hospital, Airstrip Clinic, Botswana, Sexually transmitted disease, Sexual behaviour, Adolescents -- Young people
Citation
Kanda, L. & Mash, R. 2018. Reasons for inconsistent condom use by young adults in Mahalapye, Botswana. African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine, 10(1):a1492, doi:10.4102/phcfm.v10i1.1492.