Background: Uniformed officers have been classified as one of the most at risk groups for the transmission of HIV/AIDS. Condom use among military officers is one of the national strategies instituted for HIV prevention, in the military. However, the utilization of condom in the military has not been adequately documented. This study therefore assessed the use of condoms in HIV prevention and its determinants among the Nigerian military in Abuja, Nigeria.
Methods: A cross-sectional study design, using a structured questionnaire was used to collect data on respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics, utilization of male condom. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and logistic regression at p<0.05.
Results: Seventy five percent of the respondents ever used male condom with their casual sex partners. Lifetime use of male condom was high among 25–34years (OR 2.6; 95% CI: 1.1–6.2), while casual condom use was higher in the 35– 44years (OR 6.7; 95% CI: 1.6–28.0) and among those with history of sexually transmitted diseases (OR 0.13; 95% CI: 0.04–0.49). Male condom use, 12 months before the study, was higher among those 18–24years (OR 7.0; 95% CI: 2.4–20.2), Air Force personnel (OR 1.8; 95% CI: 1.1–3.0) and singles (OR 3.3; 95% CI: 1.9–5.5). Alcohol consumers (OR 0.4; 95% CI: 1.3–3.9) and psychoactive drug users (OR 0.40; 95% CI: 1.1–5.8) were less likely to use male condom.
Conclusions: The use of male condom was common among military personnel. However, correct use of male condom was quite low. Factors that influenced condom use included adequate knowledge of HIV, age, marital status, use of psychoactive drugs and alcohol. There is the need to improve awareness of HIV transmission and prevention strategies among military officers in Nigeria.
Keywords: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Military personnel, Male Condom use, Sexual behavior