Use of male condoms during and after randomized, controlled trial participation in Cameroon

This study evaluated patterns of long-term use of male condoms among partners of 966 Cameroonian women who received eight intensive, monthly counseling sessions about condoms and sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment.

An interrupted time-series design was used with study participants reporting condom use and other covariates at enrollment, monthly for 6 months during the randomized, controlled trial, and at approximately 14 months after the trial.

Consistent condom use began decreasing while women were still receiving monthly condom use counseling, with every month in the trial associated with an odds ratio of 0.96 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.94-0.99) of consistent condom use and dropped substantively after the trial with a 0.39 (95% CI, 0.26-0.59) odds ratio in a logistic regression analysis. The incidence of unprotected coital acts as each month passed increased by 3% (95% CI, 1-4%) with no statistically significant change during the condom use follow-up survey as indicated in a zero-inflated Poisson regression model for unprotected coital acts. Condom use in a coital act was 0.84 (95% CI, 0.78-0.92) less likely during the follow-up survey than during the trial.

Only a few women sustained consistent condom use throughout the study period and for more than 1 year after. It is important to continue documenting the impact of condom promotion in a rigorous manner and to identify content and delivery of counseling that will lead to sustained condom use beyond the intervention period.