Objective: The study tried to identify predictors of good knowledge of contraceptive methods and use of condoms at the last sexual act with a girl/boyfriend by adolescents aged 10-19 years in Nigeria. It also tried to find the association between age, sex and HIV status with the study outcomes.

Methods: This was a cross sectional study that recruited a geographically representative sample of 749 adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) and 825 HIV negative/untested adolescents aged 10-19 years in Nigeria. A face to face interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on their socio-demographic profile, awareness of contraceptive methods, and use of contraceptives. Study participants were recruited from six of the 36 states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory. Chi-square was used to establish association between self-reported HIV status, age and sex, and awareness of contraceptive methods and condom use during last sex act. Significant predictors of 'good knowledge of modern contraceptive' and 'use of condoms by sexually active adolescents at last sex act' were also determined using logistic regression.

Results: Being a student significantly reduced the odds of having good knowledge about modern contraceptives (OR: 0.46; CI: 0.32-0.65; p<0.001). Having a tertiary level of education (OR: 1.36; CI: 1.12-1.64; p=0.002) and being HIV negative (OR: 2.92; CI: 1.98-4.32; p<0.001) increased the odds of having good knowledge of modern contraceptives. The only significant predictor for use of condoms at last sexual intercourse with a boy/girlfriend is self-efficacy about being about to negotiate condom use with a boy/girlfriend (OR: 141.01; CI: 14.99-1326.36; p<0.001).

Conclusion: The study findings reiterate the need to introduce adolescents in general and ALHIV specifically to condom use in early adolescence prior to commencing sexual activities; and the need to provide adolescent friendly sexual and reproductive health services in Nigeria.