A questionnaire survey was carried out among 1041 students in secondary schools and colleges in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania to evaluate the relationship between HIV-risky sexual behaviour and anti-
condom bias, as well as with
AIDS-related information, knowledge, perceptions and attitudes. Self-reportedly, 54% of students (75% of the boys and 40% of the girls) were sexually active, 39% had a regular sexual partner and 13% had multiple partners in the previous year. The
condom use rate was higher than previous reports. However, 30% of sexually active respondents did not always use
condoms (Risk-1 behaviour) and 35% of those with multiple partners in the previous year did not always use
condoms (Risk-2 behaviour). Multiple logistic regression analyses indicated that 'sex partner hates
condom' had association with both Risk-1 behaviour (OR 2.47; 95% CI 1.58-3.85) and Risk-2 behaviour (OR 2.47; 95% CI 1.10-5.48). 'Use of
condom prevents
HIV infection' also had association with both Risk-1 behaviour (OR 2.09; 95% CI 1.19-3.67) and Risk-2 behaviour (OR 3.73; 95% CI 1.28-11.03). Students engaging in risky behaviour were aware of the risk, even though they failed to change their behaviour. Reasons for the
AIDS epidemic among Tanzanian students and the importance of more effective
AIDS education are also discussed.