11th International AIDS Conference Vancouver, British Columbia — July 7-12, 1996

Int Conf AIDS 1996 Jul 7-12; 11:35 (abstract no. LB.D.6069)
Opio AA, Musinguzi J, Asiimwe-Okiror G, Byabamazima C, Turyaguma P, Madraa E, Nsubuga P, Kawesa D; STD/ACP Ministry of Health, Entebbe, Uganda. Fax: 256-42-20608.

OBJECTIVES: To provide baseline data for evaluation of STD/AIDS Control Programme.

METHODS: From October 1995 to November 1995, population-based studies were conducted in 5 districts of Uganda. Subjects were selected through a multistage sampling technique. First, 50 clusters were randomly selected from each study domain using probability proportional to size. Second, 18 households were randomly selected from each cluster. Thereafter, every usual household member or visitor aged 15-19 years was interviewed. 1428 respondents were interviewed in Kampala, 1546 in Jinja, 1155 in Kabale, 1464 in Soroti and 1358 in Lira.

RESULTS: A high proportion of respondents (68% or more) reported sexual behavior change during the last five years due to HIV/AIDS with the proportion being higher in women. The main change reported was "sticking to one sexual partner" followed by faithfulness and abstinence. Use of condoms, zero grazing and restriction of outing of sexual partner were also reported. Furthermore, 6 to 59 of respondents reported sex with non-regular partners in the last one year. Sex with non-regular partners was more prevalent among male respondents and especially those in urban settings. Younger age groups were more likely to have this behavior. 14 to 63% of respondents reported condom use during the last sexual intercourse with non-regular partners. Reasons given for not using condoms during the last sexual intercourse of risk were non-availability of condoms, personal dislike of condoms and objection by partner.

CONCLUSION: A high proportion of respondents reported changes in their sexual behavior during the last 5 years due to HIV/AIDS. The main reported changes included sticking to one sexual partner, faithfulness, zero grazing, abstinence and condom use. These behavior changes may partly explain the recently reported "declining trends in HIV prevalence in Uganda".

960707
LBD6069

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