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Factors Associated with Condom Use Among HIV Clients in Stable Relationships with Partners at Varying Risk for HIV in Uganda

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Abstract

In Africa, HIV infections occur mostly in stable relationships, yet little is known about the determinants of condom use in this context. We examined condom use among 272 coupled HIV clients in Uganda who had just screened for ART eligibility; 128 had an HIV-positive partner, 47 HIV-negative, and 97 a partner with unknown HIV status. Sixty-six percent reported unprotected sex with their partner over the past 6 months (57–70% across the three subgroups). Multiple variables among socioeconomic characteristics, physical health, social support, and psychosocial adjustment were correlated with condom use in bivariate analysis, but in multivariate analysis, condom use self-efficacy was the only predictor of condom use in the total sample and subgroups; church attendance and physical functioning were also predictors among unknown status couples. This analysis reveals high rates of unprotected sex among coupled HIV clients, regardless of partner’s HIV status, and suggests multiple targets for prevention.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the study coordinators (Tonny Kizza, Joseph Bebe, Mark Magina), the clinic directors (Drs. William Tamale and Grace Namayanja), nurse Erina Turya, and counselors (Hellen Nakyambadde, Rose Byaruhanga, Grace Barungi) who helped to identify and refer participants, and the client participants who gave so generously of their time and their personal information. This research is supported by a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation (Grant No. HE 007; PI: G. Wagner).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. RAND Corporation, 1776 Main St., Santa Monica, CA, 90407, USA

    Glenn J. Wagner, Bonnie Ghosh-Dastidar & Gery Ryan

  2. University of Southern California School of Social Work, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Ian Holloway

  3. Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda

    Cissy Kityo & Peter Mugyenyi

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  1. Glenn J. Wagner
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  2. Ian Holloway
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  3. Bonnie Ghosh-Dastidar
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Correspondence to Glenn J. Wagner.

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Wagner, G.J., Holloway, I., Ghosh-Dastidar, B. et al. Factors Associated with Condom Use Among HIV Clients in Stable Relationships with Partners at Varying Risk for HIV in Uganda. AIDS Behav 14, 1055–1065 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-010-9673-4

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