Abstract:

Introduction: This is a critical review of an article by Zewdneh Shewamene published in the July 2015. The central theme is that consistent condom use among HIV patients is important in preventing transmission of HIV.

Article summary: The premise of the authors is that consistent condom use among HIV infected is critical for interrupting transmission of HIV and acquisition of resistant strains of HIV. Among the 317 respondents, condoms awareness was 96.2%. Independent factors for consistent use were, male sex (AOR=6.87; p=0.001), urban residency, (AOR=4.65; p=0.001), a higher education attainment (AOR=8.98; p=0.001), and prolonged duration on ART (AOR=3.91; p=0.001). The conclusion was that some HIV infected people were not using condoms.

Article critique: The article maybe considered as objective, and unbiased due to the peer review process. The journal that published it is indexed on PubMed, and, Embase, among others. That the article was published in a journal for those with an interest in HIV and palliative care makes it relevant for HIV programming particularly in Africa where HIV burden is high. The objectives are well spelt, and the methodology is easy to follow. Only verbal consent was obtained from the respondents contrary to the dictates of the Belmont report that requires written informed consent.

Conclusion: The articles contributed to literature and can provide a basis of improving future studies of a similar nature. However, it is suggested that measurement of condom use should be serial and be recoded to a dichotomous variable in analysis.

Keyword: Condoms, Ethiopia, HIV.

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