A couple of years ago I did research in the DR about AIDS (machismo, stigmatization and knowledge about aids influencing condom uses among adolescents in the DR). At the time about 85% of the HIV/AIDS cases of the carribean were on the island of hispanolia (most in Haiti).
The HIV prevalence was 2,5%, where (if I remember correctly) a percentage higher then 1 (of the general population) is considered to be an epidemic and difficult to control. Almost 5% of the population most at risk (sexworkers, gay people and drug addicts) were infected.
The DR did put some money into AIDS prevention and education and numbers were dropping, also condom use was rising.
I did my research mainly under adolescents in the north part of the country (surrounding tourist areas).
After analysis of the results it turned out that dominican adolescents used more condoms then their american/european counterparts. Personally I think this is a little bit hard to believe and could partly be the effect of giving a social desirable answer (although that happens everywhere, but i think stronger here) and partly it is, because in europe/usa girls use more other forms of contraception.
But anyway, this does point out that using condoms is considered a good thing.
And I always hear all my (male) dominican friends say that they usa a condom, ESPECIALLY with gringas. Now Im not standing in the room with them when they do it, so its impossible for me to know for sure, but I do think they use alot more condoms then people think/expect. (at least in tourist areas)