A survey of 180 randomly selected drivers was carried out in June 1994 in Ilorin, Nigeria in order to gain information about high-risk sexual behaviours, to ascertain condom use and to identify obstacles to condom acceptance so as to facilitate the design of an intervention to prevent Sexually Transmitted Diseases/Acquired Immuno-deficiency Disease in this target population. Data was collected through face-to-face interview. Three-quarters of the respondents were married. Multiplicity of sexual partners including casual and commercial contacts, was common. Half of the respondents engaged in high-risk sexual behaviour and a high proportion of them (60 percent) reported unwillingness to use the condom. This was mainly due to general dislike and lack of knowledge of the method. Risk perception was poor. These findings support the need for male reproductive health services especially for this sub-population.
PIP: 180 public transport drivers randomly selected from major motor parks in Ilorin, Nigeria, were surveyed in June 1994 to learn about their high-risk sexual behaviors, condom use, and obstacles to the acceptance of condoms. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews. The men were of mean age 33 years with a range of 19-53 years. 39.4% drove buses, 36.7% a car, 13.3% a truck or trailer, and 19% a lorry. 76.6% worked in urban areas. In the preceding 12 months, 16% of the single men had no sexual intercourse. However, 91% of the single sexually active men had multiple sex partners. Of the 98 (71.5%) married men who had extramarital sexual relationships, at least 72% had multiple extramarital sex partners. The prevalences of casual and commercial sex were 43% and 30.6%, respectively. Half of the drivers were involved in unstable sexual relationships. However, despite the high incidence of high-risk sex behavior, 60% reported being unwilling to use condoms, mainly due to their general dislike and ignorance of the method. The men poorly perceived the extent to which they were at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases through their sexual behavior.