AEGiS-15IAC: [LbOrD32] CONDOM USE AMONG HOSPITAL STAFF IN ZAMBIA

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand — July 11-July 16, 2004

[LbOrD32] CONDOM USE AMONG HOSPITAL STAFF IN ZAMBIA

Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16;15:Abstract No. LbOrD32

K Kiragu¹, C Mwaba², T Ngulube³, M Nyumbu⁴, P Njobvu⁵, P Eerens⁶
¹Population Council/PATH, Nairobi, Kenya; ²Zambia Health Education and Communication Trust, Lusaka, Zambia; ³INESOR/University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia; ⁴Zambia Integrated Health Project, Lusaka, Zambia; ⁵Zambia Medical Association, Lusaka, Zambia; ⁶Zambia Integrated Health Program, Lusaka, Zambia

BACKGROUND: Health workers are vulnerable to HIV/AIDS due to both behavioral and occupational risks. They are also assumed to ''know better'', and to be taking adequate measures to avoid HIV/AIDS. This paper examines the number of partners and condom use among health workers in Zambia.

METHODS: Data were collected from 1425 hospital employees from 5 facilities in Zambia using a structured questionnaire. Data collection ended in February 2004. Respondents covered the cross-section of hospital staff from medical doctors to custodial workers.

RESULTS: Only 54% of the survey respondents felt that condoms were effective in preventing HIV. About half reported that condoms were not easy to get in the hospital. Two thirds of participants, 77% of men and 61% of women, reported having a sex partner. 68% of the total sample reported having sex in the year preceding the survey, and 24% of these had had sex with more than one person during the year. Men (28%) were more likely than women (18%) to report multiple partners. 37% of multi-partner respondents had not used a condom at all during the year, including 33% of the men and 44% of the women. Trust was the main reason for condom nonuse. The last time condoms were used, males (48%) were more likely than females (37%) to have suggested use.

CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest an urgent need to remind hospital staff about the HIV risk of multiple sexual partners, to educate staff about effectiveness of condoms, and to make condoms more accessible in the hospital setting. Most importantly there is a need to go beyond education, and to provoke them into adopting safer behaviors. These issues appear more pressing among women. The project team is now implementing a hospital-based worksite program in response.

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