Condom use among married women at risk for sexually transmitted infections and HIV in rural China

Objective

To assess factors associated with condom use among married women in rural China, and provide evidence for implementing education strategies to prevent sexually transmitted infections and HIV.

Methods

A total of 737 sexually active married rural women who were aged between 18 and 49 years and had heard of AIDS were selected by cluster sampling and interviewed in 8 villages of Anhui province, China.

Results

The rate of condom use was only 5.4%.There were no significant differences in sexual behavior and condom use between married women whose husbands were away as migrant workers and the wives of nonmigrant men, except in knowledge of free condom sources. Significant factors associated with condom use included age, level of education, knowledge about condoms, training about condoms, sources of condoms, and husbands' attitude toward condoms.

Conclusions

More educational interventions are needed to increase condom knowledge and promotion, especially among less educated women and married women left behind by migrant husbands.