Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice of Condom Use among Males Aged (15-49) Years in Erbil Governorate

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Globally, condom is an important method of family planning and prevention of sexually transmitted infections especially human immune deficiency virus HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome AIDS. Family planning saves lives of women and children and improves the quality of life. This study was conducted to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices in addition to socio-demographic factors of condom use among males in Erbil governorate. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A cross sectional study conducted on randomly selected sample of 600 males aged 15-49 years from 3 districts of Erbil governorate of Iraqi Kurdistan region by using multistage cluster sampling method to assess their knowledge, attitudes and practice of condom use. RESULTS: Only 12% of respondents had ever used condoms. The main reason for condom use was for family planning in about 91.7%. About a quarter of respondents reported knowing how to use condom correctly. Condoms were considered by respondents as an effective method of contraception and prevention of sexually transmitted infections 33.2% and 28.3% respectively. While 30.3% of them believed that condom use had some harmful effects. The main reason to non condom use was lack of need in 45.5%, fertility related reasons in 17% and the use of other methods by the female partner 13.6%. Although 64% of respondents heard about AIDS /HIV and 71.7% about STIS in general, only few felt that they are at risk of STIs 9.5% and HIV infection 8.5%. CONCLUSION: The study showed that the rate of condom use was low among the studied sample. This was due to lack of knowledge about proper and effective use of condoms, low perception of risk of HIV and other STIs, misperception about harmful effects of condoms and the use of other family planning methods by respondents and their female sexual partner.