Gender Differences in Attitude to Use of Condom and Sexual Practices among Higher School Students in Nigeria.

AIM: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common among college students. Evidence suggests there may be increasing trend in females. This study assesses the differences in attitude to use of condom to determine the risk of infections among students. METHOD: A total of 880 students from College of Education Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria were assessed for attitude to the use of condom and relative risk of STIs, using the Sexual Risk Questionnaire. RESULTS: The mean age for males was 22.4 ± 4.7 years and females 21.9 ± 5.5 years. There were variable attitudes to the use of condom among students; 24.2% males and 21.9% females were used to unsafe sex with 1.105 relative rate (RR) of STIs at 95% CI; 34.7% against 27.4 % who were of the same HIV status had 1.179 (RR) at 95% CI; while 44.7% against 37.9% who claimed to be enjoying sex without condom had 1.132 (RR). The difference in relative risk of STIs was statistically significant in 29.4% of males and 32.0% of females who were pressured by partners not to use condom (p=0.024). CONCLUSION: Condom use is influenced by sexual practices. Negative attitude leading to its neglect, encourages sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS among students. There is need for attitudinal change in order to control STIs in our environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]