SOME FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH CONDOM USE AMONG BAR MAIDS IN TANZANIA

Summary

Some socioeconomic and demographic factors contributing to the use of condoms among bar maids were studied in selected urban areas in Tanzania. Bar maids were classified according to whether or not they use condoms, and logistic regression was used in the analysis. Of the demographic variables studied, age, marital status, education level, use of alcohol and wage rate showed a significant relationship at the 1% level between individual factors and use of condoms. The odds ratios show that girls aged 10–14 are over 18,000 times more likely not to use condoms compared with women aged 30 and above. Those who drink are 6·6 times (1/0·165) less likely to use condoms compared with those who do not drink. In other words, alcohol consumption can be a stimulus for an individual not to use condoms. It is clear that young girls who drink are at the highest risk of contracting HIV/AIDS in comparison with older females. A multiple logistic regression model shows all the aforementioned factors to be significant at the 1% level. A policy recommendation is made that the government should impose restrictions as far as employment of bar maids is concerned.