Intentions to use condoms in Rwandan secondary school students

Abstract

A survey was conducted among 474 (213 female and 261 male) students (mean age 21 years) in three secondary schools in rural Rwanda in order to evaluate their attitudes towards condoms. Male students and those with sexual experience had more favourable attitudes towards condom utilisation than female students and those without prior sexual contacts. Of the 44% with reported sexual experience, reported age at first encounter was lower in boys (16.8 years) than in girls (18.3 years; p=0.03); 73 students (36%) reported regular use of condoms. Having more than one sexual partner was reported by 42 (9%), of whom 20 (48%) claimed regularly using a condom. Intention to use condoms was reported by 77% of the male and 53% of the female students (p=0.001). In addition, those with prior use of condoms and those having multiple partners were more likely to report future use intentions than others. Future campaigns in Rwanda should therefore focus on sensitising adolescents to a more positive attitude towards condoms and include modules to reduce condom misconceptions and stigma.

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to C. Mashaka, E. Muliganda, A. Strenger, (Byumba), U. Mey (Cameroon), and G. Gaetschenberger (Burkina Faso) for technical assistance and J. Stolwijk (New Haven) for comments on the manuscript.