The magnitude of condom use and related behaviors in HIV-positive patients receiving antiretroviral therapy in western Ethiopia: Implication for nurses to consolidate voluntary counseling and testing

International Conference on HIV/AIDS, STDs, & STIs

October 24-25, 2013 Holiday Inn Orlando International Airport, Orlando, FL, USA

Zewdneh Shewamene

Accepted Abstracts: J AIDS Clin Res

Abstract :

H IV/AIDS is one of the greatest public health problems of sub-Saharan Africa countries. Condom use practice among others remains the most effective method against HIV infection. However, it was not known whether people?s awareness and practices in relation to condom use had changed particularly among those living with HIV/AIDS. This scenario deserved to be investigated. A cross sectional study was conducted from April to May, 2013 among 317 randomly selected HIV-positive participants who are currently taking anti-retroviral therapy (ART). Analysis was done using descriptive statistics to generate useful information and binary and multiple logistic regressions were used in order to examine the predictors of consistent condom use and knowledge. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS version 20). The age of participants ranged from 18 to 69 years with a mean (SD) age of 32 (1.8) years for females and 34.4 (1.9) years for males. Overall, 244 (77%) of the total respondents had adequate knowledge regarding condom and consistent condom use was reported by 1140 (88.6%) males and 110 (69.1%) of females in the past six months. participants taking ART for more than three years had better knowledge (OR 7.78; 95% CI 4.24-12.99). More regular use of condom was reported by those with an advanced level of education (OR 8.98; 95% CI 5.06-14.45) compared to illiterates. Condom use among HIV-positive clients is higher than previous researches but their awareness to condom is not as good as highly counseled patients. A regular counseling must be considered as a powerful means of fostering positive attitudes and building safe practices of condom among patients receiving ART

Biography :

Zewdneh Shewamene has completed his bachelor?s degree in Pharmacy from Jimma University and master?s degree from Addis Ababa University. He is currently working as a Lecturer of Pharmacology at University of Gondar. He has published 4 papers in international peer reviewed journals