Barriers to Condom utilisation among mobile police officers in paramilitary camping sites:A case of Sondela Camp in Kafue rural District

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Date
2011-07-08
Authors
Mulenga, Fred
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Abstract
research was conducted to establish the barriers associated with condom utilization among mobile police officers in Sondela paramilitary camp in Kafue rural district. The study was prompted by the fact that Zambia police service had scanty information on officers’ condom utilization and since there had been STIs, pregnancies and also failure to achieve 100% use of condoms among mobile police officers in Sondela, a need arose to establish factors that could have led to this situation. The sample size was determined to be 240 respondents. We used simple random sampling method to select respondents. A research design was cross sectional and data was collected using a self administered questionnaire. The study was approved by the UNZA graduate forum, and cleared by UNZA Research Ethics Committee and Police high command. Consistency condom use was estimated at 32.5%. Multivariate analysis revealed that predictors of consistency condom use were: age, low level of education, lack of adequate information and care giving about condoms and a belief that condoms promote promiscuity. Arising from these findings, Police command should conduct HIV/AIDS sensitization among mobile officers targeting age category of 25-34 years dispelling myths regarding condom use, provide in-service courses to mobile police officers and train service providers on consistency condom use for effective service delivery. Embrace male circumcision services for male police officers; introduce the condom wallet intervention where a police officer on operational duty is provided with a condom wallet filled with condoms. These suggestions will at a large scale increase the consistency use of condoms among mobile officers and benefit other police mobile camps in the Zambia.
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Keywords
Condoms , Shealth Contraceptives , Sexually Transmitted disease---Prevention
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