Condom use and its related factors: The practice among young homosexual males in selected urban poor communities in Cotabato City

• Main Author: Castro, Philip A.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2003
• Subjects: Condom use; Male contraception; Sexual ethics; Gay couples > Sexual behavior; Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/3088; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etd_masteral/article/9926/viewcontent/CDTG003537_P.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

The main objective of the study was to assess the condom practice among young homosexual males aged 15 to 24 in selected urban poor communities in Cotabato City. It also sought to investigate the factors that influence their consideration for safer sex practice. Specifically, the study examined young homosexuals' (a) condom practice; (b) sexual behaviors (i.e., sexual partners and sexual practices); (b) level of knowledge on HIV/AIDS; (c) perceptions on HIV/AIDS; (d) attitude towards condom use; (e) subjective norms surrounding condom use; and (f) perceived behavioral control over using condom. The study employed a two-stage research design utilizing survey and in-depth interview methods. In the first phase, the study surveyed a purposive sample of 28 respondents with a 64-item questionnaire. On the succeeding stage, in-depth interviews among four key informants were conducted using a topic guide as an instrument. These informants were selected from the initial survey sample based on their condom practice and knowledge level on HIV/AIDS. Data gathered from these procedures were then subjected to descriptive and content analyses. The 28 respondents, with a mean age of 20 years, came from three urban poor communities in Cotabato City, i.e. Dapdap, Notre Dame Village and Pascual Compound. Majority of them (21/28) never used condom before, while less than a third (7/28) reported inconsistent use. Initial condom use among those who used condom was subsequent to sexual initiation, averaging a mean difference of 2.14 years. Nonetheless, most respondents, regardless of condom practice, reported unprotected oral and/or anal sex with their five recent sexual partners, with non-condom users reporting a relatively higher mean of unprotected anal sex (3) than condom users (2). Nonetheless, the two groups averaged four episodes of unprotected oral sex. Non-condom users were more likely to have higher numbers of lifetime and recent sexual partners than condom users, registering a lifetime mean of 21 partners and a recent average of four sexual partners, as opposed to 14 lifetime and two recent partners among condom users. However, the two groups shared similar patterns in sexual practices, initiating sex even before reaching the age of 15. An equal proportion of sexual acts with five recent sexual partners was also noted among condom users and non-condom users, with over two-thirds engaging in both oral and anal sex, while less than a third claiming exclusive oral sexual practice. Generally, the young homosexual respondents, regardless of condom practice, had low level of knowledge on HIV/AIDS, with the widespread existence of myths and misconceptions on HIV transmission and prevention. Although they generally believed on the severity of the disease, they had varying perceptions on personal susceptibility, with the condom users more likely to believe their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS than non-condom users. Moreover, despite their iii common conviction on the positive outcomes of condom practice, they harbored negative notions on its use, e.g. reduced sexual pleasure, which most often took precedence over safer sex consideration, particularly among non-condom users. Most of them commonly thought that their sexual partners and friends approved of condom use, yet actual support and practice revealed otherwise. Nonetheless, condom users showed more resistance to these negative persuasions than non-condom users. Furthermore, although they expressed capability to practice and decide on condom use, other factors were also recognized to influence their consideration for its actual practice, including: (1) sexual partner's support on condom use; (2) peer support on condom use; (3) availability of condoms; and (4) information/knowledge on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS. The foregoing data clearly showed that the young homosexual males in the study were highly susceptible to acquiring and transmitting HIV. Despite the assertion of a low and slow transmission of HIV in the country, these patterns in sexual behavior among the population are potential provocateurs for the further spread of the disease in the future.