Determinants of unprotected casual heterosexual sex in Ghana

Casual heterosexual sex remains a significant contributor to HIV transmissions in Ghana, as well as many other countries in sub-Saharan Africa. With the PRECEDE framework as a conceptual guide, the study used data from the 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS) to assess the socio-demographic, economic and spatial factors influencing unprotected casual heterosexual sex among Ghanaian men and women. Results from binary logistic regression models revealed both protective and risk factors associated with unprotected casual heterosexual sex, with variations between men and women. A positive significant association between women aged 35-39 years and unprotected casual heterosexual sex emerged, while an inverse association was found for women living in the Eastern Region and women with exposure to print media. Men of Christian or Traditional religion were positively associated with unprotected casual heterosexual sex, while the reverse was true for men with middle/JSS or secondary/higher education, men living in the Upper East Region, and men with exposure to television. These findings emphasise the undiminished need to tailor interventions to the unique needs and circumstances of specific population subgroups.