This descriptive correlational study was conducted to gain an understanding of
how attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, self-efficacy, moral
norms, role beliefs, perceived risk, and past condom use influenced condom use
intentions among a group of 580 undergraduate students in Ghana. An extended version
of the theory of planned behaviour guided the study.
The results showed that students had moderate intentions to use condoms in their
sexual encounters. Only 46% of all sexually active participants used condoms in their last
sexual encounter. The extended version of the theory of planned behaviour explained
56% of the variance in the intention to use a condom during every sexual encounter
among participants. In order of decreasing importance, perceived behavioural control,
moral norms, attitudes, and past behaviour emerged as significant independent predictors
of condom use intention. Thus, those university students who intended to use condoms in
their next sexual encounters were more likely to perceive that their personal principles
and convictions towards condom use were positive, to perceive that condoms were easy
to use, and to evaluate condom use as a positive behaviour. Implications for health
promotion, theory, and research include addressing the psychosocial factors associated
with condom use.