How are condoms used in a family planning setting: evidence from Zimbabwe.

OBJECTIVES (To determine the level and consistency of condom use among family planning clients at three family planning clinics in Zimbabwe.) DESIGN A prospective cross sectional study. SETTING The study was carried out at three Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council clinics. SUBJECTS We interviewed 899 consecutive women seeking family planning services at these three clinics using a structured questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The prevalence of condom use among this population of family planning clients and the factors predicting condom use were the main outcome measures. We define dual method use (DMU) as the use of condoms in conjunction with another highly effective contraceptive and dual purpose use (DPU) as the use of condoms for both pregnancy and STI/HIV prevention. We measured self-reported condom use during the last 30 days prior to each interview. RESULTS The prevalence of condom use among this population of family planning clients was 38%. Of all the study participants, 32% were DMU clients while 5% were DPU clients. Fifty eight percent of the DMU clients and 89% of the DPU clients clients reported consistent condom use respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed that young age and reporting high risk sexual behaviour were predictors of condom use. CONCLUSIONS The level of condom use among this population of family plannig clients is too low for a country with such a high HIV prevalence. Condom users were more likely to report DMU than DPU. Those reporting DPU were more likely to report consistent condom use.