Back to Journals » Open Access Journal of Contraception » Volume 1

Psychosocial correlates of condom usage in a developing country

Authors Bourne P, Charles CA, Francis CG, Williams MS, South-Bourne N, McDaniel S

Published 7 July 2010 Volume 2010:1 Pages 61—71

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/OAJC.S11800

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 2



Paul A Bourne1, Christopher AD Charles2, Cynthia G Francis1, Maxwell S Williams3, Neva South-Bourne1, Samuel McDaniel3

1Department of Community Health and Psychiatry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica; 2King Graduate School, Monroe College, 2375 Jerome Avenue, Bronx, New York, USA; 3Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica

Abstract: This study examines the psychosocial factors accounting for condom usage during the last sexual episode for males, females, and the general population aged 15–49 years, and the psychosocial factors accounting for frequency of condom usage in Jamaica. Logistic regression models were estimated using data collected in 2004 by the Jamaica Ministry of Health. Sixty-nine percent of the sample indicated that they had used a condom in the past, but only 31% reported that they had always used a condom in the previous 12 months, compared with 16.5% who reported “most times”, 21.4% who reported “sometimes”, and 31% who reported “never”. Five variables emerged as statistically significant factors for the last time males used a condom (χ2 = 128.76, P < 0.001), four variables for females (χ2 = 75.45, P < 0.001), and five variables for the general population (χ2 = 200.84, P < 0.001). The three most significant factors which correlated with frequency of condom usage in the previous 12 months with a current partner, in descending order, were condom usage during the first act of sexual intercourse with a current sexual partner, self-efficacy, and marital status. These findings are discussed within the general context of understanding condom usage, frequency of condom usage among Jamaicans, and how these can aid public health intervention programs.

Keywords: condom use, sexual behavior, psychosocial factors, public health

Creative Commons License © 2010 The Author(s). This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License. By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.