Condom use and associated factors among HIV positive ART naive and ART experienced patients attending HIV chronic care clinics in Entebbe Municipality.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: About thirty three million people are infected with HIV/AIDS worldwide. The main mode of transmission of HIV is by heterosexual transmission. Studies have demonstrated that the male condom can substantially prevent HIV transmission, when used correctly and consistently. However, there is little information on the use of condoms among HIV positive patients who are ART experienced of ART naïve, yet this could be useful in designing client specific HIV transmission prevention interventions that would go a long way to reduce spread of resistant strains leading to less costs of HIV/AIDS care. OBJECTIVES: To compare the level of consistent condom use, knowledge and perceptions about condoms and access to the male condom between ART experienced and ART naïve clients attending HIV chronic care clinics. METHODS: A clinic based cross-sectional study employing both qualitative and quantitative methods was collected. A sample of study subjects was selected from the population of HIV positive patients attending the two major HIV chronic care clinics in Entebbe Municipality. RESULTS: 137 HIV positive clients attending HIV care clinics were interviewed, 72(52.5%) of which ART experienced and 65(47.5%) were ART naïve. The proportion of consistent condom users tended to be higher among the ART experienced (55.5%) compared to the ART Naïve (47.2%) but was not statistically significant. (Adj. OR =0.7, 95%C1={0.2-2.4}). Good knowledge about condoms and their proper use was similar between ART-E (51%) and ART-N(47%) patients (Adj. OR=1.1, 95%C1={0.5-2.3}), so was access to the male condom, ART-E (95.8%) and ART-N (92.3%). HIV positive clients positively perceive condom use promotion programs, irrespective of their ART status. CONCLUSIONS: About half of the HIV positive patients enrolled at chronic care clinics use condoms consistently and there are no differences in consistent condom use, knowledge about the male condom and its proper use or access to male condom by ART status. RECOMMENDATIONS: Consistent condom use among HIV positive clients attending care clinics should be improved irrespective of ART status and HIV positive clients should be given an opportunity to participate in condom use promotion programs since they perceive condom use promotion positively and are willing to participate in them.