Factors associated with inconsistent condom use and multiple sexual partners among adolescents in South Western Nigeria

Objective: The study examined factors associated with inconsistent condom use and multiple sexual partners among adolescents in Osun State. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study of 450 adolescents interviewed using a pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted among this in-school and out-of- school adolescents. Main outcomes were inconsistent condom use and multiple sexual partners within previous year. Qualitative data was used to triangulate findings from the quantitative data which was analyzed using SPSS version 16. Results: The mean age of respondents was 15 (SD 2.6) years. One hundred and thirty adolescents (28.9%) have had sexual intercourse and only 36 (27.7%) of these used condom consistently. Fifty-five respondents (42.3% of the sexually active) had multiple sexual partners in the last year. Most participants in FGD agreed that adolescents get involved in high-risk sexual practices secondary to peer pressure and lack of parental care. Pornography, male gender and castigation of chastity among peers were some of the factors significantly associated with multiple sexual partners (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Sexually active adolescents have low risk perception of condom use and have multiple sexual partners. Preventive education could increase their risk perception and reduce risk taking among this vulnerable group. Keywords: adolescents, inconsistent condom use, multiple sexual partner. AbstraitObjectif: L’etude a examine les facteurs associes a l’utilisation irreguliere du preservatif et aux partenaires sexuels multiples parmi les adolescents de l’Etat d’Osun. Methodes: Une etude transversale descriptive de 450 adolescents interroges a l’aide d’un questionnaire semistructure pre-teste. Des discussions de groupe focus (DGF) ont ete organises parmi ces adolescents scolarises et non scolarises. Les principaux resultats etaient l’utilisation irreguliere du preservatif et la multiplicite des partenaires sexuels au cours de l’annee precedente. Des donnees qualitatives ont ete utilisees pour trianguler les resultats des donnees quantitatives qui ont ete analysees a l’aide de SPSS version 16. Resultats: L’âge moyen des repondants etait de 15 ans (ET 2,6). Cent trente adolescents (28,9%) ont eu des rapports sexuels et seulement 36 (27,7%) d’entre eux ont utilise le preservatif regulierement. Cinquante-cinq repondants (42,3% des sexuellement actifs) ont eu plusieurs partenaires sexuels au cours de la derniere annee. La plupart des participants aux discussions de groupe focus ont convenu que les adolescents s’impliquent dans des pratiques sexuelles a haut risque en raison de la pression des pairs et le manque de soins parentaux. La pornographie, le genre masculin et la fustigation de la chastete entre les pairs etaient quelquesuns des facteurs significativement associes aux partenaires sexuels multiples (p < 0,05). Conclusion: Les adolescents sexuellement actifs ont une faible perception du risque de l’utilisation du preservatif et ont de multiples partenaires sexuels. L’education preventive pourrait accroitre leur perception du risque et reduire la prise de risque au sein de ce groupe vulnerable. Mots cles: adolescents, utilisation irreguliere du preservatif, partenaire sexuel multiple. Correspondence: Dr. S.A. Olowookere, Department of Community Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. E-mail: sanuolowookere@yahoo.com.