Abstract
Sexually active South African youth are at high risk for HIV infection but a low prevalence of condom use has been reported in this population. We examined correlates of consistent condom use with most recent sex partners among a nationally representative sample of youth 15–24 years old who reported having had sex in the previous 12 months (N = 6,649). Among men and women, having talked to a partner about using condoms was the most significant predictor of consistent condom use. However, youth who reported being in their most recent relationship for more than 1 year and who reported having had sex one or more times in the last month were more likely to report inconsistent condom use. HIV interventions should empower youth to talk about using condoms with their partners, encourage periodic testing for HIV, and reinforce condom use according to HIV status in long-term relationships.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Agha, S., Hutchinson, P., & Kusanthan, T. (2006). The effects of religious affiliation on sexual initiation and condom use in Zambia. Journal of Adolescent Health, 38(5), 550–555.
Ahmed, S., Lutalo, T., Wawer, M., Serwadda, D., et al. (2001). HIV incidence and sexually transmitted disease prevalence associated with condom use: A population study in Rakai, Uganda. AIDS, 15(16), 2171–2179.
Blanc, A., & Wolff, B. (2001). Gender and decision-making on condom use in two districts in Uganda. African Journal of Reproductive Health, 5(3), 15–28.
Connolly, C., Colvin, M., Shishana, O., & Stoker, D. (2004). Epidemiology of HIV in South Africa-results of a national, community-based survey. South African Medical Journal, 94(9), 776–781.
Crosby, R., DiClemente, R., Wingood, G., Lang, D., & Harrington, K. (2003). Value of consistent condom use: A study of sexually transmitted disease prevention among African American adolescent females. American Journal of Public Health, 93, 901–902.
Ford, K., Sohn, W., & Lepkowski, J. (2001). Characteristics of adolescents’ sexual partners and their association with use of condoms and other contraceptive methods. Family Planning Perspectives, 33(3), 100–105.
Gallant, M., & Maticka-Tyndale, E. (2004). School-based HIV prevention programs for African youth. Social Science and Medicine, 58(7), 1337–1351.
Harrison, A., Xaba, N., & Kunene, P. (2001). Understanding safe sex: Gender narratives of HIV, pregnancy prevention by rural South African school-going youth. Reproductive Health Matters, 9, 63–71.
Hearst, N., & Chen, S. (2004). Condom promotion for AIDS prevention in the developing world: Is it working? Studies in Family Planning, 35(1), 39–47.
James, S., Reddy, P., Ruiter, R. A., McCauley, A., & van den Borne, B. (2006). The impact of an HIV and AIDS life skills program on secondary school students in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. AIDS Education and Prevention, 18(4), 281–294.
Karen, R., Davis, S., & Weller, C. (1999). The effectiveness of condoms in reducing heterosexual transmission of HIV. Family Planning Perspectives, 31(6), 272–279.
King, K., Holmes, R., & Marcia, W. (2004). Effectiveness of condoms in preventing sexually transmitted infections. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 82(6), 454–460.
Ku, L., Sonenstein, F., & Pleck, J. (1994). The dynamics of young men’s condom use during and across relationships. Family Planning Perspectives, 26(6), 246–251.
Lagarde, E., Auvert, B., Chege, J., et al. (2001). Condom use and its association with HIV/sexually transmitted diseases in four urban communities of sub-Saharan Africa. AIDS, 15(suppl 4), S71–S78.
Lescano, C. M., Vazquez, E. A., Brown, L. K., Litvin, E. B., & Pugatch, D. (2006). Condom use with “casual” and “main” partners: What’s in a name? Journal of Adolescent Health, 39(3), 441–447.
MacPhail, C., & Campbell, C. (2001). ‘I think condoms are good but, aai, I hate those things’: Condom use among adolescents, young people in a Southern African township. Social Science & Medicine, 52, 1613–1627.
MacPhail, C., Williams, B. G., & Campbell, C. (2002). Relative risk of HIV infection among young men and women in a South African township. International Journal of STD and AIDS, 13(5), 331–342.
Manlove, J., Ryan, S., & Francetta, K. (2003). Contraceptive use patterns within teenagers’ first sexual relationships. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 35(6), 246–255.
Noar, S., Carlyle, K., & Cole, C. (2006). Why communication is crucial: Meta-analysis of the relationship between safer sexual communication and condom use. Journal of Health Communication, 11(4), 365–390.
Pettifor, A., Measham, D., Rees, H., & Padian, N (2004). Sexual power and HIV risk, South Africa. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 10(11), 1996–2004.
Pettifor, A., Rees, H., Kleinschmidt, I., et al. (2005). Young people’s sexual health in South Africa: HIV prevalence and sexual behaviours from a nationally representative household survey. AIDS, 19, 1525–1534.
Reddy, S., Panday, P., Swart, D., Jinabhai, C., Amosun, S., James, S., & Monyeki, K. D. (2003). Umthenthe Uhlaba Usamila—The South African Youth Risk Behaviour Survey 2002. Cape Town: South African Medical Research Council.
Shafii, T., Stovel, K., Davis, R., & Holmes, K. (2004). Is condom use habit forming? Condom use at sexual debut and subsequent condom use. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 31(6), 366–372.
Shisana, O., & Simbayi, L. (2003). Nelson Mandela/HSRC Study of HIV/AIDS South African National HIV Prevalence, Behavioural Risks and Mass Media Household Survey 2002. Cape Town: Human Sciences Research Council.
Shlay, J., McClung, M., Patnaik, J., & Douglas, J. (2004). Comparison of sexually transmitted disease prevalence by reported level of condom use among patients attending an urban sexually transmitted disease clinic. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 31, 154–160.
Simbayi, L. C., Chauveau, J., & Shishana, O. (2004). Behavioral responses of South African youth to the HIV/AIDS epidemic: A National Survey. AIDS Care, 16(5), 605–618.
Voluntary HIV-1 Counseling and Testing Efficacy Study Group. (2000). Efficacy of voluntary HIV-1 counseling and testing among individuals and couples in Kenya, Tanzania and Trinidad: A randomized trial. Lancet, 356, 103–112.
Weinhardt, M. P., Carey, B., Johnson, T., et al. (1999). Effects of HIV counseling and testing on sexual risk behavior: A meta-analytic review of published research, 1985–1997. American Journal of Public Health, 89(9), 1400–1405.
World Bank. (2002). Education and HIV/AIDS a window of hope. Washington, DC: World Bank.
Acknowledgments
Survey data were collected as part of an on-going evaluation of the loveLife programme and the study was commissioned by the Kaiser Family Foundation. The design of the study, collection of data and reporting of results were overseen by an independent scientific committee located at the University of California, San Francisco.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Moyo, W., Levandowski, B.A., MacPhail, C. et al. Consistent Condom Use in South African Youth’s Most Recent Sexual Relationships. AIDS Behav 12, 431–440 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-007-9343-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-007-9343-3