Predictors of condom use among unmarried sexually active women of reproductive age in Tanzania

Background: Condom is one of the methods for prevention against Human Immunodeficiency Virus and other Sexually Transmitted Infections. It is also considered an effective method for preventing unwanted pregnancies. Despite the several interventions that have been put to promote condom use, still, a large proportion of women do not use condoms during sexual intercourse. Objectives: This study aimed at determining predictors of condom use among unmarried sexually active women of reproductive age in Tanzania. Methods: This study used secondary data from the 2015-16 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicator Survey (2015-16 TDHS-MIS). It involved unmarried sexually active women aged 15-49 years. Multiple binary logistic regression was used to determine predictors for condom use at last sexual intercourse. Results: Overall, a lower proportion (31.1%) of unmarried sexually active women used condoms at last sexual intercourse. The odds of using condoms during last sexual intercourse were lower for older women (aOR=0.67 and aOR=0.65 for women aged 20-24 and 25+ years respectively). Women who reported higher age (18+ years) at first sex had higher odds (aOR=1.65) of using condoms compared to those who started having sex before 15 years old. Women from rich households (aOR=1.5) and those owning phones (aOR=1.44) had higher odds using condoms at their last sexual intercourse. Also, higher odds of using condoms were observed for women in the Southern, South West highlands, and Eastern zones compared to the Central zone. Conclusion: The level of condom use among unmarried women in Tanzania is very low and varies by age, age at sex intercourse, household wealth index status, ownership of a phone and domicile zones. Targeted interventions are needed to promote condom use among unmarried women to mitigate the risk of HIV and unintended pregnancies.