Factors associated with condom use and perceived personal and health risks among men who have sec with men

• Main Author: Sepnio, Jose S., Jr.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2014
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/4703
• Institution: De La Salle University

The study was conducted to describe the characteristics of young MSM and other reinforcing factors associated with reported condom use, perceptions and their perceived risk of STIs. The data were derived from 100 young MSM in Zamboanga City, Philippines. Chain referral method was mainly used in the recruitment of the respondents. Many of these young MSM were Muslim and belong to the older youth category. These young MSM mostly came from the college and graduate school group. Regarding their sexual relationships, these MSM preferred to have sex with their regular (boyfriends) than casual sexual partners. Many of them are receptive (sex position) and had engaged in multiple sexual partners. Moreover, using frequency distribution, cross tabulations and certain appropriate tests, findings revealed that young MSM who belong to the college and graduate school and those who have sex with regular sexual partners were more likely to use condoms consistently. Educational attainment was also found to be significantly related to perceptions towards condom use, specifically condom self-efficacy and perceived condom availability. It was noted that favourable perceptions came with increasing level of education. Moreover, condom efficiency, self-efficacy and condom availability were found to significantly influence the reported condom use. Overall, these young MSM were identified to have positive perceptions in using condom and also perceive themselves to be highly vulnerable to acquiring STI/HIV. This is manifested by their consistent use and positive perceptions towards using condoms. There are many factors associated with condom use among young MSM, and in this study it has been shown that education has a strong influence in both perceptions and consistency of using condoms.