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. 2009 Apr;38(2):552-60.
doi: 10.1093/ije/dyn358. Epub 2009 Jan 15.

A case-crossover analysis of predictors of condom use by female bar and hotel workers in Moshi, Tanzania

Katherine Tassiopoulos  1 , Saidi Kapiga, Noel Sam, Trong T H Ao, Michael Hughes, George R Seage 3rd
Affiliations

A case-crossover analysis of predictors of condom use by female bar and hotel workers in Moshi, Tanzania

Katherine Tassiopoulos et al. Int J Epidemiol. 2009 Apr.

Abstract

Background: Factors related to specific sexual encounters can influence condom use during these encounters. These situation-specific factors have not been adequately studied in resource-poor countries where HIV infection has in some areas reached epidemic levels. This study was undertaken to identify situation-specific factors associated with condom use among 465 female bar and hotel workers in Moshi, Tanzania.

Methods: We conducted a case-crossover study in which women provided information about their most recent unprotected and protected sexual encounters. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate paired odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the association between situation-specific factors and condom use.

Results: A subject-based or mutual decision about condom use (compared with partner based), casual partner type, a first-time sexual encounter and receiving gifts in exchange for sex were independently associated with increased odds of condom use, while sex at home and sex with a partner more than 10 years older was associated with reduced odds of use. There was also effect modification between partner type and decision-making: subject-based or mutual decisions were more protective with casual than regular partners; also, when the partner made the decisions about condom use, the type of partner had no effect.

Conclusions: Decision-making about condom use is a potentially modifiable predictor of unprotected sex, but its effect varies by partner type. Behavioural interventions are needed that encourage discussion about condom use and increase women's self-efficacy, but other types of interventions as well as female-controlled HIV prevention methods are needed for women in regular partnerships.

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