Correlates of Condom Use and Procedure Knowledge Among Men Accessing Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision in Malawi

Purpose: This study examined correlates of condom use (CU) and voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) knowledge among men accessing VMMC services in Malawi. Methods: Two hundred sixty-nine men ages 16 or older accessing VMMC were recruited at service sites. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to determine associations, and the relative odds of CU at last sex with VMMC knowledge. Correlates included the following: education, age, location, religion, marital status, ever tested for HIV, having casual/concurrent sexual partners, and alcohol use before sex. Results: The multivariate analysis revealed CU was associated with having a casual/concurrent partner in the previous 3 months and negatively associated with being age 27 or older and single, with participants who had casual/concurrent partners being more likely to use condoms than counterparts who did not have casual/concurrent partners, and those who were over age 27 and single being less likely to do so. VMMC knowledge was associated with education and location, with men with higher education and living in urban areas more likely to know that VMMC partially protects against HIV. Conclusion: Results highlight the need to ensure information about VMMC is appropriate for rural men with lower education. Further research is needed to understand the risk profile of men accessing VMMC and the reasons why men who do not know VMMC partially protects against HIV are seeking the service.