Multiple Sexual Partners and Condom use among 10 - 19 Year-olds in four Districts in Tanzania: What do we Learn?

Although some studies in Tanzania have addressed the question of sexuality and STIs among adolescents, mostly those aged 15 - 19 years, evidence on how multiple sexual partners influence condom use among 10 - 19 year-olds is limited. This study attempts to bridge this gap by testing a hypothesis that sexual relationships with multiple partners in the age group 10 - 19 years spurs condom use during sex in four districts in Tanzania. Secondary analysis was performed using data from the Adolescents Module of the cross-sectional household survey on Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) that was done in Kigoma, Kilombero, Rufiji and Ulanga districts, Tanzania in 2008. A total of 612 adolescents resulting from a random sample of 1200 households participated in this study. Pearson Chi-Square was used as a test of association between multiple sexual partners and condom use. Multivariate logistic regression model was fitted to the data to assess the effect of multiple sexual partners on condom use, having adjusted for potential confounding variables. STATA (10) statistical software was used to carry out this process at 5% two-sided significance level. Of the 612 adolescents interviewed, 23.4% reported being sexually active and 42.0% of these reported having had multiple (> 1) sexual partners in the last 12 months. The overall prevalence of condom use among them was 39.2%. The proportion using a condom at the last sexual intercourse was higher among those who knew that they can get a condom if they want than those who did not. No evidence of association was found between multiple sexual partners and condom use (OR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.35 - 1.67, P = 0.504). With younger adolescents (10 - 14 years) being a reference, condom use was associated with age group (15 - 19: OR = 3.69, 95% CI = 1.21 - 11.25, P = 0.022) and district of residence (Kigoma: OR = 7.45, 95% CI = 1.79 - 31.06, P = 0.006; Kilombero: OR = 8.89, 95% CI = 2.91 - 27.21, P < 0.001; Ulanga: OR = 5.88, 95% CI = 2.00 - 17.31, P = 0.001), Rufiji being a reference category. No evidence of association was found between multiple sexual partners and condom use among adolescents in the study area. The large proportion of adolescents who engage in sexual activity without using condoms, even those with multiple partners, perpetuates the risk of transmission of HIV infections in the community. Strategies such as sex education and easing access to and making a friendly environment for condom availability are important to address the risky sexual behaviour among adolescents

The Irish at home and abroad (poster)

A poster for the one-day conference 'The Irish at home and abroad'. Organised by the Irish World Heritage Centre (IWHC). Saturday 30th September 2006. Guest speakers: Maureen Fitzgibbon, Dr. Liam Harte, Rose Morris, and Donal Maguire

Irish heritage, No. 7

A 24-page magazine, with the strapline 'The independent magazine of Manchester Irish Education Group and the Irish World Heritage Centre'

Calendar, 1990

Calendar on folded A3 sheet accompanying 'Irish Heritage' magazine, no. 5, Winter/Spring 1990. Reverse features 'Mionna na Bliana: the months of the year' by Emrys Evans explaining the derivation of the Irish names for the months

Contraceptive methods: potential for abuse

Contraceptive technologies are one of the most extraordinary advances of the twentieth century, enabling women and men to prevent unwanted pregnancy. They have also been criticized for giving rise to abusive practices in the name of population control. Some people have even argued that contraceptive methods which have a potential for abuse should not be developed. We maintain that eliminating research on such methods does not address the problem of abuse. Abuse has been defined as the violation of the right to liberty and security of the person, which requires that an individual's free and informed consent be given before research is done on, or treatment is provided to, that individual. A number of international guidelines on the ethical conduct of research involving human subjects, and on the provision of medical services, emphasise the importance of informed consent as part of informed decision-making of individuals. Irrespective of the contraceptive methods already available or under development, much public education is needed to ensure that investigators, health providers, users of services and research participants fully understand what informed consent means, what it implies and how it should protect people. Non-governmental organizations and others can use the various national and international mechanisms that exist to investigate cases of alleged abuse and to bring redress in such situations. The international community has a duty to foster and strengthen ethical practices in research and service provision of contraceptive methods