Correlates of Condom Negotiation Intent: The Case of Jimma University Undergraduates

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.