Trudy Simpson, Staff Reporter
MANY Jamaicans are continuing to reject condoms, according to a national survey which revealed that one in two persons did not use a condom the last time they had sex.
Results from the Jamaica Healthy Lifestyle Survey, released Thursday, show that of the 1,419 persons aged 15 to 49 interviewed, 53 per cent males and 67 per cent females failed to use condoms during their last sexual encounter therefore putting them at risk of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted illnesses.
In addition, one in two men and one in 10 women had more than one sex partner in the past year, outlined Dr. Peter Figueroa, head of the Government of Jamaica/ World Bank HIV/AIDS project.
The two-year collaborative research between the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the Health Ministry looked at local disease burden and its links to dietary and behavioural practices of Jamaicans. It was conducted between September 2000 and August 2001 and was funded by an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) loan.
The results, released at a Lifestyle Symposium at the Jamaica Conference Centre (JCC), downtown, Kingston, showed that 64 per cent of surveyed men and 11 per cent of women had multiple partners.
Officials admitted that more studies needed to be done to explain why people get involved or are exposed to these behaviours but those who appear to have high risky behaviour include persons with lower socio-economic status, educational level and who are not practising religion, the survey reported.
Factors helping to lessen or prevent high risk behaviour include the presence of a supportive family environment or presence of a significant other, self-esteem, education, aspiration, participation in religious activities. In addition, being occupied in productive activities such as gainful employment, learning and sports have also been shown to be protective.
"These are the practices on risk behaviours that we have found on the research and which we now need to translate into effective public policy and action," he said, adding that there were two primary approaches which must be taken. One is that health officials must more effectively treat persons already suffering from chronic illnesses.
"We (also) need to spread primary prevention by increasing physical exercise, eating right and to avoid smoking or substance use and we need to practice safe sex."
