Abstract:
The study attempted to assess the relationship between condom communication variables
and intention to negotiate condom use. Using structured questionnaire and FGDs, data
was gathered from 378 randomly selected and 25 discussants that were selected through
snowball sampling respectively, from Jimma University undergraduates. Multiple
regressions and content analysis were used to analyze the survey and the qualitative data
respectively. The analyses indicated significant association between condom
communication variables and intention to negotiate condom use. TPB’s (Theory of
planned behavior) original predictor variables jointly explained 30% variance on the
dependent variable. Regression analyses showed that students’ attitude towards
discussing condom use and condom communication self-efficacy uniquely predicted
intention to negotiate condom use. Further, ‘verbal condom negotiation strategies’ and
‘giving great value to life and health’, which have been developed from the qualitative
data, significantly predicted intention to negotiate condom use, contributing a further
13.8 % over and above TPB’s original predictor variables. The study concluded that
intention to negotiate condom use is dependent on ‘attitude towards discussing condom
use, condom communication self-efficacy, giving great value to life and health, and
verbal condom negotiation strategies. The study recommends programs that foster safer
sex in college context to emphasize these variables, in participatory manner where target
groups are encouraged to discuss openly, to develop their communication abilities, to
appreciate their life and health, and to enhance their use of condom negotiation strategies.
Furthermore, the study recommends more research on prevailing discourses of
HIV/AIDS and sexuality on college students.
