Risky Sexual Behaviour and Condom Use in Malawi

Andrew R. Channon, University of Southampton
Nyovani Madise, University of Southampton

Risky sexual behaviour for males and females, and male condom use with marital partners, girlfriends and casual partners in Malawi was modelled using multilevel logistic regression analysis on DHS (2000) data. Male risky behaviour was associated with age, age at first intercourse, drunkenness, ethnicity and marital status (p<0.05). Significant variation was seen at a district level. Female risky behaviour was associated with a number of variables, including drunkenness, religion, ethnicity, age at first intercourse, marital status and attitude to wife beating. There was significant variation at the cluster and district levels. Condom use with girlfriends and casual partners was at moderate levels, and low within marriage. Use within marriage was associated with ethnicity, age and region. Male use with girlfriends was associated with exposure to radio, ethnicity, wife beating attitude and working status. Casual partner condom use was associated with urban/rural classification, highest educational level, age and wife beating attitude.