The relationship between perceived self-esteem and intention to use condom among female adolescents in selected secondary schools in Dar es salaam region

Unintended pregnancies among female adolescents render them prone to negative consequences, including school dropout. Thus identification of social cognitive factors that precipative condom use behavior is important. The objectives of the present study were threefold: First, to investigate the relationship between the perceived self-esteem and the intention to use a condom; Second, to assess the relationship between selected psychosocial variables and the intention to use condom; Third, to explore the relationship between perceived parent/guardian-child relationship and perceived self-esteem among female adolescents. A total of 353 female adolescents ( aged 13-19 years) from three girls` only secondary schools in Dar es salaam region completed the self-administered questionnaire. Data were analysed quantitatively using SPSS programme version 12.0-13.0. The results revealed that the perceived self-esteem correlated statistically significantly significant relationship between the selected psychosocial variables and the intention to use a condom. Perceived subjective norms demonstrated higher correlation (r-0.48, p,01). Furthermore, the study found that perceived parent/guardian-child relationship and self-esteem correlated statistically significantly (r=.26p,01). It can be conducted that it is of great value to consider perceived self-estimeed, perceived subjective norms, and behavioral control when designing and implementing sexual risk reduction programmes aimed at promoting condom use among female adolescents in secondary schools. It is also concluded that perceived parent/guardian-child relationship is an important factors in explaining perceived self-esteem among female adolescents. Thus, school-based social competence-building programmes should incorporate parent-guardian-child relationship enhancing component as an effort to promote high self- esteem perceptions among female adolescents.