Predictors of condom use at sexual initiation among unmarried male youth in Nigeria

Kola A. Oyediran, JSI Research and Training Institute
Daisi Feyisetan
Toyin Akpan, Independent Consultant

This paper examined correlates of condom use at first sexual encounter among unmarried youth in Nigeria. The data was derived from the 2003 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). Both descriptive and analytical methods are used to assess the net effects of socio-economic factors on sexual behaviour and condom use at sexual initiation. About 45 percent of study population is sexually experienced and 19.1 percent used condom at sexual debut. Level of education, place of residence (urban/rural, childhood and region), religious affiliation, economic status index and exposure to the mass media were associated with sexual experience and use of protective measures. For instance, economic status index is positively related with respondents’ use of condom during their last sex encounter. Majority of Nigerian young adult men were sexually experienced, condom use remains low, thus makes this sub-group of Nigerian population highly vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS.