Condom utilization and associated factors among female sex workers in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia 2014

Abstract

Introduction: Sexual transmitted infections are the most important public health problem and widespread in the world. Especially the most at risk population groups were exercising unsafe sex, particularly female sex workers, in which the prevalence of HIV/ADIS is higher than the general population due to multiple sexual partner and inconsistent condom use. Objective: To determine condom utilization and associated factors among female sex workers in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia 2014. Methods: Cross-sectional quantitative study triangulated with qualitative method was conducted on 488 female sex workers for quantitative part and 10 female sex workers for qualitative data. Stratified sampling technique was undertaken in licensed and non licensed establishment. Pre-tested and structured questionnaire were used to generate quantitative data through interview technique of data collection. Open ended and semi structured in-depth interview were prepared for qualitative data. The collected data were entered into Epi info version 3.5.3 and exported to SPSS version 20.0 software package for analysis. Binary and multivariate logistic regression analyses were done to determine the association between condom utilization and associated factors. Result: This study revealed that 47.7 % of the respondent used condom with any type of client. Secondary or above education [AOR:3.7,95%CI(1.70,8.25)], HIV/AIDS and STI transmission and prevention method knowledge[AOR:1.9, 95CI%( 1.04,3.33)], perceiving themselves at risk of HIV/AIDS infection [AOR: 5.9, 95%CI (3.18, 10.51)], awareness of STI will increase HIV infection [AOR: 3.11, 95CI %( 1.62,5.94], participated in any HIV/ADIS prevention program [AOR: 13.3,95%CI (7.33, 24.10)], tested HIV/ADIS in the last 12 months [AOR: 3.4 95%CI (1.51, 7.78)],lower number of clients in a month [AOR:2.48,95%CI (1.42,4.24)] and higher payment for one night sex [AOR:2.1,95%CI (1.57,3.72)] were factors affecting condom utilization. Conclusion and recommendation: This finding depicted female sex workers condom utilization was low and this puts them at high risk of HIV infection. Primary and secondary or above education , knowledge about HIV and STI prevention and transmission methods,Perciving themselves at risk of HIV infection, awareness of STI will increase HIV infection, participating in any HIV prevention program , testing of HIV in the last 12 months, number of client and higher payment for one night sex were positively associated with condom utilization. Thus, target oriented behavioral change and communication strategies have to be developed and implemented in the government health sector, HIV/ADIS prevention and control office and other. (Key word: HIV/ADIS, STI, Female sex worker, condom utilization, client, factors and Gondar).