Use of Condoms among Human Immunodeficiency Virus Positive Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Nnewi, South East Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Consistent use of condom provides protection from transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in couples with sero-discordant HIV status. It also protects against acquiring other strains in HIV positive concordant couples. AIM: This study evaluated the use of barrier method of contraception among HIV patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among pregnant women in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to obtain relevant information from the subjects. Data was analyzed using SPSS software version 20.0 (Chicago, IL, USA, August 2011). RESULT: A total of 126 HIV positive pregnant women participated in this study. The mean age of the women was 30.4 (5) years while the mean parity was 2.6 (1). All the patients had at least primary education with 63.5% (80/126) having secondary education as the highest educational attainment while 87.3% (110/126) were in monogamous marriage. The partner's HIV status showed that 41.3% (52/126) tested negative to HIV antibodies while 42.8% (54/126) tested positive to HIV antibodies and 15.9% (20/126) do not know partner's HIV status. Only 61.9% (78/126) of the couples use condom during sexual intercourse. Further analysis showed that 26.2% (33/126) use condom consistently except during timed intercourse for conception. There was significant association between type of relationship and use of barrier method of contraception. There was no significant association between sero-discordant couples and highest educational status with use of barrier method of conception. CONCLUSION: Condom use among HIV positive couples is low and raises great concern on transmission of the virus to partners and babies born to positive mothers.