BOY/GIRL FRIEND AND VIRGINITY VALUES, AND STIGMA RELATED TO CONDOM AMONG JIMMA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Individual factors such as the value given to virginity and boy/ girl friend, and stigma attached tocondom can strongly affect success in preventing early sexual initiation and in using condom consistently. To thebest knowledge of the authors, no literature was available in Ethiopia on these issues until the time of this study.The objective of this study was to assess the value given to virginity, boy/ girl friend, and stigma related to condomaccess and use.METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a random sample of 1986 students in May 2009 in JimmaUniversity using both qualitative and quantitative techniques. Data were collected using piloted and pre -codedquestionnaire and from six focus group discussions. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS for windowsversion 13 where descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and t-test were computed. P-value less than 0.05 was consideredstatistically significant and effect size was measured in Eta squared. The qualitative data findings weretriangulated with the quantitative ones.RESULTS: Of 1986 respondents, 1612 (81.2%) were males, 365 (18.4%) females and 9 (0.4%) their gender notindicated. The age of respondents ranged fro m 17- 45 years with median of 20 years. Virginity value-scores weresignificantly lower among females (p< 0.001, Eta squared= 0.023). In contrast to many males, most femalesappeared to be not concerned about virginity during the focus group discussions. Many respondents of bothgenders reported that boy/girl friend is very important in campus life. Although the stigma to condom was slightlyhigher among females (p< 0 .001, Eta squared= 0.009), most respondents of both genders had a stigmatizingattitude.CONCLUSION: Lower virginity value among females with high value given to boy/girl friend appeared to indicatethe liberalization of sex. Liberalization of sex and stigma to condom were occurring together. Sex educatorstargeting university students should focus on problems of liberalized unprotected sex in relation to success in life.KEYWOR DS: virginity value, boy/ girl friend value, stigma to condom