RESEARCH ARTICLE io u

also acknowledge condoms as players of an im-perative role in reducing the risk of unintended 1Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Full list of author information is available at the end of the articleBackground Confidence to negotiate safer sex practices is very crucial especially today when the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) due to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is rampant. In the global warfare against HIV/AIDS, research underscores the importance of communication between sexual partners concerning condoms use [1,2]. This is based on the fact that communication between sexual partners about condom use is associated with increased use of condoms [3]. More importantly and probably beyond communication, it is established that those who convince or persuade their sexual partners to use condoms are more likely to actually use them than those who do not [4]. A condom – if used correctly and consistently – guar-antee more than 90 % effectiveness at preventing hetero-sexual acquisition and transmission of HIV [5,6]. Famil