Risk and Protective Factors influencing Condom use among Adolescents in Rivers State, Nigeria: A cross-sectional study

Introduction: condoms have been shown to be effective in preventing HIV, STIs, and unwanted pregnancies, though many unmarried adolescents and young adults choose not to use condoms at all. This study assessed the facilitators and barriers to condom use among adolescents in Rivers State.

Methods: A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to survey 671 adolescents using a multi-staged sampling technique. Data were analyzed with IBM SPSS version 26.

Results:  About 356 (53.9%) were females, and 338 (50.4%) lived in rural areas. The median age of the respondents was 18 years.  Out of the 671 adolescent respondents, 313 (46.7%) of them have had sexual experiences. The proportion of sexually experienced respondents who used condoms was 192 (61.7%), one method used to prevent pregnancy was a condom 157 (80.1%).

Factors that significantly influenced condom use were not being in school, the mother’s level of education, and occupation. A lesser proportion of those whose fathers are alive 142 (57.1%), (χ2 = 10.99; p < 0.001)., and those who discuss sex-related matters with their fathers 22 (47.8%), (χ2 = 4.42; p < 0.035) use condoms.

Specifically, Condom use was higher among adolescents not currently attending school 141 (65.6%) (χ2 = 4.36; p < 0.04). A greater proportion of those who often go to parties 25 (86.2%) (χ2 = 13.95; p < 0.001) and movies 13 (73.7%) (χ2 = 6.98; p < 0.03) used condoms

Conclusion: There is a need to contextualize appropriate reproductive health interventions for adolescents.