Characteristics and sexual behaviour of individuals attending the sexually transmitted diseases clinic at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital Blantyre, Malawi.

Characteristics and sexual behaviour, knowledge of HIV and knowledge of attitudes to and use of the condom were assessed by a questionnaire survey of a sample of 734 patients attending a sexually transmitted diseases clinic at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi. The male respondents had a mean age of 27.4 years compared with 24.5 for the women. Nearly two thirds of either sex reported more than one sexual partner during the previous year. Thirty one percent of the females and 43% of the males admitted having ever exchanged money directly for sex. Knowledge about HIV transmission and prevention, and the condom was generally good. Only 24% male and 45% female respondents reported having ever used the condom, with 27% and 43% respectively using it sometimes. No respondent used the condom always. The most common reported reason for not using the condom was partner refusal. Many of the respondents exhibited a high level of HIV risk behaviour.