Assessment of consistent condom utilisation and associated factors among hiv clients on antiretroviral therapy in Mekele Hospital, Tigray, Ethiopia

Background: The introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has sharply decreased morbidity and mortality rates among HIV infected patients. Due to this, more and more people with HIV live longer and healthier lives. Yet if they practice sex without condom, those with high viral load have the potential to infect their sero-negative sexual partner or at risk of acquiring drug resistant viral strains from their sexual partner who are already infected. Therefore, assessing consistent condom use and associated factors among HIV patients who were on ART is very important in the prevention and control of the disease. Objective: To assess level of consistent condom utilization and factors associated with it among HIV positive adults on ART at Mekelle Hospital. Methods: Hospital based cross sectional study was conducted among 412 participants using systematic random sampling from July 16 to 27, 2012 by trained health workers using an interviewer guided structured questionnaire. SPSS Software was used for analysis, descriptive statistics, and logistic regression was done to determine the independent predictors of condom utilization. Data was presented in tables and text. Result: Consistent condom use was reported by 112(55.7%) sexually active study subjects. Participants who were divorced (AOR = 12.3, 95% CI: 1.78, 84.47); and those who were disclosed HIV status to their partner/s (AOR = 8.48, 95% CI: 1.46, 49.36) and those who stayed for longer time on ART (AOR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.06, 0.99); were found to be the independent predictors of consistent condom use. Conclusion: consistent condom utilization is still low which needs an improvement to strengthen and scale up the ART program. Counselors have to tailor the information of consistent condom use in each visit without hesitating.