Condom use, risk perception, and HIV knowledge: a comparison across sexes in Nigeria

Figures & data

Table 1 HIV knowledge and behavior

Variable	n	Total sample	M	F	P-value† (H0: M = F)
Knowledge on the existence of HIV/AIDS
Never heard of HIV/AIDS	1929	10.5%	5.5%	15.3%	0.000*
HIV prevention knowledge#
HIV prevention knowledge indicator, total score (0–11)‡	1657	7.01	7.15	6.85	0.017*
HIV prevention knowledge indicator, average score (−1 to 2)	1657	1.43	1.52	1.33	0.000*
a. Mentions abstaining from sex can prevent HIV contraction	1726	24.3%	22.7%	26.1%	0.101
b. Mentions being faithful can prevent HIV contraction	1726	51.7%	50.4%	53.1%	0.270
c. Mentions condoms can prevent HIV infection	1726	43.3%	54.3%	31.2%	0.000*
Mentions one of the abc	1726	82.2%	87.1%	76.6%	0.000*
Mentions abc	1726	5.3%	5.1%	5.6%	0.651
Does not know where to get condoms	1932	19.4%	9.4%	29.1%	0.000*
HIV-related perceptions
HIV stigma indicator (0–4)	1723	2.09	2.04	2.16	0.023*
HIV transmission misperception indicator (0–3)	1723	0.81	0.80	0.82	0.306
Risk perception of unprotected sex (1–7)	1914	5.46	5.52	5.40	0.258
HIV-related behavior
HIV prevention indicator, total score (0–11)	1676	6.67	6.78	6.54	0.158
HIV prevention indicator, average score (−1 to 2)	1676	1.33	1.43	1.22	0.000*
a. Mentions abstaining from sex to prevent HIV contraction	1726	17.1%	14.3%	20.2%	0.001*
b. Mentions being faithful to prevent HIV contraction	1726	50.8%	49.4%	52.4%	0.225
c. Uses condoms to prevent HIV	1726	37.1%	47.0%	26.3%	0.000*
Used condom during most recent sex	1961	18.9%	27.8%	10.1%	0.000*
Had more than one sexual partner in past year	1855	12.8%	23.8%	1.9%	0.000*
Married respondents that had more than one sexual partner in the past year	1258	10.5%	19.6%	1.9%	0.000*
HIV prevalence	964	1.45%	0.84%	2.06%	0.114

Notes:

† Statistical differences based on Wilcoxon rank-sum test

* significant results (P < 0.05)

‡ these results are calculated only for those respondents who had ever heard of HIV (results including those who had never heard of HIV were also calculated, but this hardly changed the results). The difference in abstaining from sex became much less significant (P = 0.78).

# Based on a subsample of those who had heard of HIV/AIDS.

Abbreviations: ABC, abstinence, be faithful, use a condom; AIDS, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; F, female; HIV, Human immunodeficiency virus; M, male.

Figure 1 Response to risk perception of engaging in unprotected sex.

Table 2 Condom use during most recent intercourse across the sexes

Condom use	Model 1A (AII)		Model 1B (males)		Model 1C (females)
	OR	95% CI	OR	95% CI	OR	95% CI
Risk perception (1–7)	1.12	(1.01–1.22)**	1.15	(1.03–1.28)**	1.06	(0.92–1.21)
HIV prevention knowledge indicator (0–11)	1.02	(0.94–2.18)	0.99	(0.88–1.11)	1.08	(0.96–3.05)
HIV stigma indicator (0–4)	0.89	(0.75–1.05)	0.92	(0.77–1.12)	0.77	(0.61–1.00)**
HIV transmission misperception indicator (0–3)	0.94	(0.73–1.17)	1.07	(0.82–1.40)	0.65	(0.43–0.96)**
Number of sexual partners	1.06	(0.92–1.23)	1.05	(0.9–1.21)	1.30	(0.64–2.57)
Don’t know where to get condoms#	0.03	(0.00–0.31)***	–		0.08	(0.01–0.75)**
Single	3.62	(2.57–5.20)***	3.77	(2.54–5.60)***	3.27	(1.70–6.25)***
Divorced	2.74	(1.51–4.98)***	4.66	(1.48–14.7)***	1.84	(0.83–3.94)
Widowed	1.41	(0.52–4.22)	7.29	(1.03–51.0)**	0.46	(0.07–3.34)
Consensual union	0.88	(0.63–1.19)	0.74	(0.45–1.24)	1.11	(0.50–2.40)
Birth control, no condom	0.94	(0.56–1.48)	0.55	(0.06–4.97)	0.98	(0.54–1.68)
Want child, one partner	0.58	(0.38–0.83)***	0.51	(0.30–0.87)**	0.62	(0.34–1.11)
Male	2.09	(1.20–3.09)***
Age 18–24 years	2.28	(0.68–7.08)	2.58	(0.52–12.9)	2.36	(0.81–6.53)
Age 25–49 years	1.71	(0.97–3.00)*	1.52	(0.55–4.24)	2.50	(1.05–6.09)**
Educational level	1.05	(1.01–1.09)**	1.06	(1.00–1.11)**	1.02	(0.96–1.09)
Adjusted r^2	0.17		0.11		0.16
Observations	1405		595		788

Notes:

*** P < 0.01

** P < 0.05

* P < 0.1

# for males, no estimates are provided because this variable predicts non-condom use among males perfectly. All males (n = 62) not knowing where to get condoms had to be dropped from the analysis.

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; HIV, Human immunodeficiency virus; OR, odds ratio.

Table 3 Other HIV prevention knowledge measures

Condom use during last sex	Adjusted r^2	Indicator evaluation A (AII)		Indicator evaluation B (males)		Indicator evaluation C (females)
		OR	95% CI	OR	95% CI	OR	95% CI
HIV prevention knowledge indicator, average score (−1 to 2)	0.18	1.66	(1.26–2.18)**	1.60	(1.05–2.42)**	1.78	(1.03–3.05)**
Never heard of HIV/AIDS	0.16	1.11	(1.02–1.20)**	0.84	(0.24–2.98)	0.45	(0.10–1.92)
a. Mentions abstaining prevents HIV infection	0.16	0.78	(0.57–1.06)	0.68	(0.41–1.14)	1.02	(0.45–2.30)
b. Mentions being faithful prevents HIV infection	0.16	0.80	(0.45–1.43	0.70	(0.34–1.44)	1.03	(0.59–1.80)
c. Mentions condom prevents HIV infection	0.17	1.98	(1.17–3.35)**	2.47	(1.06–5.74)**	1.35	(0.77–2.36)
Mentions one of the abc	0.16	1.61	(1.02–2.55)**	1.86	(0.86–4.03)	1.32	(0.62–2.84)
Mentions full abc	0.16	0.60	(0.31–1.17)	0.50	(0.15–1.67)	0.86	(0.93–1.25)

Notes:

** P < 0.05. Estimations of all variables as specified in Table 2 (except for the HIV prevention knowledge indicator).

Abbreviations: ABC, abstinence, be faithful, use a condom; AIDS, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; CI, confidence interval; HIV, Human immunodeficiency virus; OR, odds ratio.