Factors associated with consistent condom use in Ugandan fishing communities' cohort

Abstract

Introduction: fishing communities continue to face a heavy burden of HIV-infection. Access to HIV prevention methods remains problematic. Provision of affordable interventions such as condoms can help, but there is limited information on consistent condom use and associated factors among members of fishing communities around Lake Victoria. Methods: we promoted and provided free condoms to HIV negative fisherfolks enrolled in a longitudinal observational cohort between 2012 and 2017 in Uganda. We defined consistent condom use as a participant self-reporting 100% condom use while having sex with a new sexual partner. Results: in total 615 persons were analysed. Of these 63 (10.2%) reported consistent condom use. Being male, Muslim and mobile were independently associated with high consistent condom use while having sex under influence of alcohol and having genital discharge or sores were associated with low use. Conclusion: findings suggest low consistent condom use, calling for attention to barriers to consistent condom use.