Percent of women and men aged 15-49 who had more than one sexual partner in the past 12 months reporting the use of a condom during their last sexual intercourse

Percent of women and men aged 15-49 who had more than one sexual partner in the past 12 months reporting the use of a condom during their last sexual intercourse

Percent of women and men aged 15-49 who had more than one sexual partner in the past 12 months reporting the use of a condom during their last sexual intercourse

The percentage of respondents (aged 15 to 49) who reported having had more than one sexual partner in the last 12 months who also reported that a condom was used the last time they had sexual intercourse.  For more details on calculation and interpretation of the indicator, see PEPFAR (2009); UNAIDS (2009); WHO et al., (2006).

This indicator is calculated as:

(Number of women and men aged 15-49 who reported having more than one sexual partner in past 12 months who also reported use of a condom during last sexual intercourse / Total number of respondents (15–49) who reported having had more than one sexual partner in the last 12 months) x 100

Data Requirement(s):

Respondents are asked the screening question of whether or not they have ever had sexual intercourse (PEPFAR, 2009).

If yes, they are asked:
1. In the last 12 months, how many different people have you had sexual  intercourse with?
If more than one, the respondent is asked:
2. Did you or your partner use a condom the last time you had sexual  intercourse?

The indicator should be disaggregated by sex and by age groups (15-19, 20-24, 25-49).

Population-based surveys, such as Demographic Health Survey, AIDS Indicator Survey, Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey or other representative survey

Condom use is an important measure of protection against HIV, especially among people with multiple sexual partners. The maximum protective effect of condoms is achieved when their use is consistent rather than occasional (WHO et al., 2006).  This indicator can be used to assess progress towards preventing exposure to HIV through reducing unprotected sex with non-regular partners, in addition to the extent to which condoms are used by people who are likely to have higher-risk sex and change partners (PEPFAR, 2009). However, the broader significance of the indicator value will depend upon the extent to which people engage in changing partners and consistency of condom use, and therefore, levels and trends should be interpreted carefully using these data.

The current indicator does not provide the level of consistent condom use. However, the trend in condom use during the most recent sex act will generally reflect the trend in consistent condom use (PEPFAR, 2009).  Note: this technical area of the database also includes an indicator on ‘consistency of condom use.’  The indicator may be subject to reporting bias. Men may feel that reporting use of condoms makes them appear less masculine and underreport use or, in areas where there have been major campaigns promoting condom use, men and women may be more likely to report use at last sexual intercourse when, in fact, they did not use condoms.

HIV/AIDS, cervical cancer

Women’s knowledge about, access to and ability to negotiate use of condoms (both male and female condoms) may be limited by cultural gender norms affecting women’s mobility, exposure to media and HIV prevention information, access to health care services, resources to purchase condoms, and unbalanced power dynamics within sexual relationships. Women may be less informed about prevention of HIV transmission in general and condom use in specific, and may be reluctant to seek out information that could make them look sexually active (if unmarried) or promiscuous. Health care workers may not discuss HIV prevention including use of male or female condoms with women clients and, where rates of female literacy are low, women may not benefit from media and communication strategies that rely on printed materials.  The UNAIDS (2010) agenda for women, girls, and gender equality calls for national AIDS authorities and ministries of health to incorporate gender equality into HIV prevention and policies, which includes gender equality education, male and female condom distribution, better negotiation of safe and consensual relations, and increased access to sexual and reproductive health services and supplies.

PEPFAR, 2009, The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief: Next Generation Indicators Reference Guide, Washington, DC: USAID/PEPFAR.  http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/Pcaac330.pdf

UNAIDS, 2009, Monitoring the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS: Guidelines on Construction of Core Indicators, Geneva: UNAIDS.
http://data.unaids.org/pub/Manual/2009/JC1676_Core_Indicators_2009_en.pdf

UNAIDS, 2010, Agenda for Accelerated Country Action for Women, Girls, Gender Equality and HIV, Geneva, UNAIDS. http://www.unfpa.org/webdav/site/global/shared/documents/publications/2010/agenda_for_accelerated_country_action_en.pdf

WHO, UNAIDS, The Global Fund, CDC, USAID, UNICEF, MEASURE Evaluation, US Dept. of State: OGAC, 2006, Monitoring and Evaluation Toolkit: HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, Geneva: WHO. http://www.hivpolicy.org/Library/HPP000485.pdf

For internal use only:
Cross-reference: MC(in spreadsheet-not sure if correct)?  Not in spreadsheet – Cervical cancer, Access, BCC?

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