Sexual behaviour and use of the condom among Ugandan students

HIV infection is widespread in Uganda. Have its university students, the country's leaders of tomorrow, taken appropriate action? A questionnaire was completed by 661 men and 270 women in a one-in-four sample of Makerere University undergraduates (93% response rate). More than 60% of the men and 36% of the women reported at least two sexual partners in the past year. Over 18% of respondents reported at least one episode of sexually transmitted disease in the past year. Most respondents correctly identified the main routes of HIV transmission but risk was also often incorrectly associated with non-penetrative sex. Only a minority saw the condom as an effective preventive method: most saw it as unsafe or an encouragement to promiscuity. Condoms had been used by 35% of men and 24% of women but were currently always used by only 9% of men and 11% of women. The condom was approved of by only one quarter of respondents. Condom use increased with the number of sexual partners but was less likely if the respondent had seen official publicity about the condom. Whilst there were some encouraging signs of behaviour change, opportunities for the spread of HIV continued to abound in this important group. More positive promotion of the condom is urgently required.