An examination of the barriers to condom use relative to HIV prevention among sexually active persons in Ghana

Increasing condom use is central to the national HIV/AIDS response in Ghana. Low condom use among sexually active Ghanaians, especially during high-risk sex, is a major challenge to HIV prevention. This paper examines the socio-cultural barriers to condom use in order to guide national efforts to reduce levels of unprotected sex. It also examines respondents’ condom use and individual HIV risk perceptions and identifies socio-cultural factors affecting condom use during high risk sexual activity. The study uses a randomly selected nationally representative sample of 2,074 males (12-59 years) and 3,953 females (12-49 years) and adopts descriptive and bivariate analyses and the condom barrier scale to assess barriers to condom use in Ghana within the context of HIV prevention. Among other things, the study finds differences in age, educational status and residence (rural/urban) to be significantly associated with perceptions of partner resistance to condom use in Ghana. The analysis further shows that more females than males face partner resistance to condom use during sexual activities across all the socio-demographic categories. Gender stereotypes that result in partner barriers must, therefore, receive adequate attention in the national HIV response relative to condom use against HIV and unwanted pregnancies.