Background: HIV/AIDS is one of the world’s most serious health challenges. SubSaharan
Africa remains the region most heavily affected by HIV, with 69% of the people
living with HIV in the world. Côte d'Ivoire has a high HIV prevalence rate and Senegal a
low prevalence rate. The main research question is whether or not the HIV risk behavior
of Ivorian differs from the HIV risk behavior of Senegalese in terms of selected
categorical and continuous variables. In other words, if using condoms at last sexual
intercourse differs between Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal.
Methods: Cross-sectional data from the Measure Demographic and Health Survey
(MDHS) involving 9,686 Ivorian and 18,363 Senegalese from 2005 were used. The
Pearson Chi-square test were performed to determine any significant relationship
between the variables across the two countries with respect to socio-demographic and
HIV risky behaviors status. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to test
the significance of any association between the independent and the dependent variables
(Condoms used at last sexual intercourse). Throughout all the analysis performed, a pvalue
of 0.05 and confidence interval of 95% were used to determine any statistical
significance.
Results: Logistic regression models showed that Côte d’Ivoire respondents had decrease
odds of using condoms during their last sexual intercourse (OR=0.7; 95% CI 0.62 - 0.79)
as compared to Senegal and the difference was statistically significant at p < 0.05. In
Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal, wealth and education have been consistently found to be
positively associated with condoms used at last sexual intercourse.
Conclusion: HIV risk behaviors seem to be associated with condoms used and marital
status. The results in our study suggest a possible relation with condoms used, HIV
prevalence and polygamy in Senegal, so men use condoms less frequently with marital
partners. More studies need to assess the role of polygamy in the transmission and/or
acquisition of HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa.