Covariates and reasons for condom use and non-use among young people in Maseru and Mokhotlong, Lesotho

Ntsoaki Mapetla, National University of Lesotho
Maletela Tuoane, Department of Social Development, Pretoria

Using quantitative (2103 respondents) and qualitative data from the Baseline study on knowledge, attitudes and practices on reproductive health and HIV/AIDS collected from young people in two districts in Lesotho in 2003 the paper analyses the effects of respondents’ background characteristics on condom use during first sexual activity using bivariate and multivariate techniques. The reasons for use or non-use of condoms are also explored. The results show that condom use remains low (36 percent) among young people in both districts. Furthermore the results show that there is a close correlation between respondents’ background characteristics (e.g. sex, education, marriage) and use of condoms during first sexual activity. Analyses of the reasons for use of condoms reveal that the risk of pregnancy is acknowledged to a greater extent than the risk of HIV/AIDS. Unavailability of condoms is found to be the main reason behind condom non-use.