Sexual practices and willingness to use female condoms among female undergraduate students of the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The female condom is useful in empowering women to protect themselves from adverse consequences of sexual intercourse but there is a dearth of information about willingness to use this device by young women in Nigeria. This study assessed sexual practices and willingness to use female condoms among female undergraduate students of the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted among 600 female undergraduate students utilized a cluster sampling technique. Thirty out of 78 off campus hostels were selected by simple random sampling. A pre-tested, semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire was used. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with significance set at p=0.05. Results: Mean of age respondents was 21.5±2.5years. Majority of the sexually active respondents (285, 81.7%) had multiple sexual partners 92 (26.4%) while 266 (76.2%) had ever used contraceptives. Only 17 (6.3%) of the 270 respondents who had ever seen the female condom had used it. Main reasons for non-use of female condom were unavailability (32.7%), insertion difficulty (20.1%) and discomfort (17.1%). about a quarter,154 (27.1%) indicated willingness to use female condom. Predictors of willingness to use the female condom were being in a relationship (OR= 0.49; Cl=0.26-0.93) and level of study (OR=l.86; Cl=l. 2-2.9). Conclusion: Most respondents were sexually active with evidence of contraceptive use but poor use and a moderate level of willingness to use the female condom. Interventions aimed at improving access and demonstrations of how to use female condoms by health workers can improve use of this method.