Are partner and relationship characteristics associated with condom use in Zambian nonmarital relationships?

CONTEXT In Zambia, as in many other Sub-Saharan African countries, condom use is far below the level needed to alleviate serious threats to sexual and reproductive health. It is important to understand if and how partner and relationship characteristics are independently associated with condom use within nonmarital, noncohabiting relationships. METHODS Descriptive and logistic regression analyses of data on 657 nonmarital, noncohabiting relationships reported by male and female respondents in the 2000 Zambian Sexual Behavior Survey examined condom use in the 12 months preceding the survey. RESULTS Partner characteristics were not independently associated with condom use. Relationship characteristics that were significant largely differed by gender. Condom use within both male- and female-reported relationships was elevated if the male partner was five or more years older than the female (odds ratios, 2.1 and 3.7, respectively). Within male-reported relationships, having a partner from the same community was associated with a reduced likelihood of condom use (0.5); within female-reported relationships, the odds of condom use were elevated if sex had occurred only once (4.3). CONCLUSIONS Condom promotion programs and interventions in Africa must take into account the relationship characteristics of intended participants, paying special attention to gender differences.