Alcohol Consumption and High Risk Sexual Behaviour among Female Sex Workers in Uganda

Alcohol consumption has been associated with high risk sexual behaviour among key populations such as female sex workers. We explored the drivers of alcohol consumption and its relationship to high risk sexual behaviour. Participants were drawn from a cohort of 1 027 women selected from 'hot spots' in the suburbs of Kampala city. We conducted 3 in-depth interviews with 40 female sex workers between 2010 and 2011. Data were analysed thematically; focusing on alcohol use within the context of sex work. Alcohol consumption was very high with only seven women reporting that they did not drink. Alcohol consumption was driven by the emotional and economic needs of the participants; but also promoted by clients who encouraged consumption. Many sex workers only started drinking alcohol when they joined sex work on the advice of more experienced peers; as a way to cope with the job. Alcohol was blamed for unsafe sex; acts of violence and poor decision making which increased sexual and physical violence. Alcohol was reported to affect medication adherence for HIV-positive women who forgot to take medicine. The findings suggest that the drivers of alcohol consumption are multifaceted in this group and require both individual and structural interventions. Alcohol reduction counselling can be supportive at the individual level and should be an integral part of HIV prevention programmes for female sex workers and others such as patrons in bars. The counselling should be addressed in a sensitive manner to bar owners and managers

Sexual Risk Behaviours among Patients Living with HIV/AIDS in Douala in 2012

Introduction :The establishment of a positive HIV serologic status of an individual could have been an inhibitory factor to prevent risk behaviours in people living with HIV/AIDS. We conducted a cross-sectional study in order to assess the prevalence and predictors of risk behaviors among HIV-positive people in Douala-Cameroon. Method: We used pre-checked questionnaires to systematically collect data from four HIV Treatment centers inDouala. This was done to some of them during the distribution of drugs; and to others during their classical rendezvous; between the months of May and July 2012. The Chi-Square and Student t-test were used forcross tabulation of variables; multiple regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of risky sexual behaviours. Result: Of the 330 persons interviewed. Sixty percent were reported to have had sexual intercourse after the diagnosis of HIV. We obtained 37 HIV-positive partners and 63 had HIV-negative partners or partners with unknown status. Among our patients; 45 of the subjects with regular partners reported to have had anal or vaginal sex. Those; whose score on the knowledge about HIV / AIDS was 50 and where 90 of them were less susceptible to the condom during intercourse (p: 0.01). About 74 of patient on ARV were less susceptible to the use of condom during sexual inter course (p: 0.03)Conclusion:Risk sexual behaviours among people living with HIV/AIDS are common and potentially expose their partners. For HIV-positive partners these habits pose a real risk of suprainfection by other strains of HIV. The need to increase awareness and education among people living with HIV is therefore highly recommended

Mental health and HIV sexual risk behaviour among University of Limpopo students

Background. Little attention has been paid to the role of poor mental health among young people with regard to HIV risk behaviour and HIV prevention in Africa. Objective. To determine the association between mental health; substance use and HIV sexual risk behaviour among a sample of university students in South Africa. Methods. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among undergraduate students who were recruited conveniently from public campus venues at the University of Limpopo Medical University of Southern Africa (Medunsa) campus. The sample included 722 university students (57.6 men and 42.4women) with a mean age of 21.7 years (standard deviation _}8.8). Results. Of the 722 students; 39.5 reported depression; 23.4 screened positive for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); 22 reported hazardous or harmful alcohol use; 33 reported .2 sexual partners in the past 12 months; 50 reported inconsistent condom use; 46 reported unknown HIV status of a sexual partner and 20 reported alcohol use in the context of sex in the past 3 months. In multivariate analysis; HIV risk behaviour was associated with; among men; hazardous or harmful alcohol use and having screened positive for PTSD; and among women; being in the 4th or more year of study and current cannabis use. Conclusion. Poor mental health; including substance use; was found to be associated with HIV risk behaviour. Co-ordinated mental health and sexual and reproductive health services that meet the needs of university students would be desirable

Health-Seeking Behaviour of People with Sexually Transmitted Infections in the Community of Nkomazi East; Mpumalanga

The control of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is a priority for the World Health Organization. It is estimated that there are 11 million cases of STIs per year in South Africa. Health-seeking and sexual behaviours are important in the management of STIs. The aim was to assess the health-seeking behaviour of people who had STIs in the community of Nkomazi East; Mpumalanga. The study design was a descriptive cross-sectional survey. Participants included patients who presented with confirmed signs or symptoms of an STI; were 16 years or older; voluntarily agreed to participate in the study and were residents of the community. A total of 332 questionnaires were collected. The majority of the participants were single; literate; unemployed black patients aged from 16-23 years (43.7). Participants were very knowledgeable about STIs. Urethral discharge; painful micturition; vaginal discharge and lower abdominal pain were the most commonly recognised STI symptoms. All the participants (100) sought help when they thought that they had an STI. Their preferred source of help was the public healthcare sector. Traditional healers were also consulted frequently. While compliance to treatment was satisfactory; ongoing unsafe sexual practices were common among participants who had active STIs. The respondents had a good knowledge of STI symptoms and signs and sought help early; usually from public healthcare facilities. STI health-seeking behaviour was influenced by multiple factors. This study suggests that STI control programmes should be designed around public healthcare facilities. However; adequate knowledge of STIs did not deter many respondents from engaging in unprotected sexual activity; sometimes with multiple partners

Taxi 'Sugar Daddies' and Taxi queens: Male Taxi Driver Attitudes Regarding Transactional Relationships in the Western Cape; South Africa

Media reports are emerging on the phenomenon of young girls who travel with older mini-bus taxi drivers; and who are thought to have sex with the drivers in exchange for gifts and money. The extent to which such relationships might facilitate unsafe sexual practices and increased risks for both the men and the young women; often referred to as taxi queens; remains an important question in the light of the current challenges of HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. However; very little research has been undertaken on this issue; especially regarding the perceptions and experiences of taxi drivers. Thus this paper aims to provide some preliminary findings on taxi drivers' attitudes and beliefs about taxi queens and their relationships with taxi drivers. A 22-item questionnaire was administered to 223 male taxi drivers in two regions in the Western Cape Province; South Africa. Taxi drivers in this study largely saw the relationship between taxi drivers and the young girls who ride with them as providing status for both the girls and drivers; and there seemed to be recognition of the transactional nature of the relationship between taxi drivers and taxi queens. The stigmatisation of young girls who ride with taxi drivers was evident. Drivers had knowledge and awareness of the risks of unsafe sex and supported condom use; although there appeared to be some uncertainty and confusion about the likelihood of HIV infection between drivers and girls. While taxi drivers recognised the role of alcohol in relationships with young girls; they seemed to deny that the abuse of drugs was common. The study highlights a number of key areas that need to be explored with men in the taxi industry; in order to address risk behaviours for both taxi drivers and the girls who ride with them

The Role of `Pimping' in the Mediation of Transactional Sex at a University Campus in Zimbabwe

The article focuses on a very specific form of transactional sex that exists at a university campus in Zimbabwe; which students refer to as `pimping.' Drawing extensively on the specific experiences of a male student pimp; the article demonstrates that; in practice; transactional sex takes different forms and is not always confined to two parties (namely; a woman and a man). In this case; `pimp-mediated' transactional sex introduces a third person - the pimp - into what is traditionally understood to be a relationship between the two parties and; in the process; dramatically transforms the social obligations that define this particular social relation. A major transformation that occurs in pimp-mediated transactional sex is that it makes the pimps; rather than the women; the central people in these relationships. This; I argue; makes transactional sex more efficient and potentially increases the female participants' vulnerability to HIV infection

Sexual Risk Behaviour amongst Young People in the Vhembe District of the Limpopo Province; South Africa

This study entailed a quantitative; cross-sectional survey amongst young people in four villages of the Vhembe district of the Limpopo province. The purpose of the research was to determine the sexual health risk behaviour indicators prevalent amongst young people that could contribute to the spread of HIV and AIDS in this district. The objectives of this study were (1) to identify sexual risk behaviour; (2) to establish the prevalence of substance use before sexual intercourse; (3) to determine the prevalence of coerced sexual intercourse and (4) to determine the prevalence of forced sexual intercourse amongst young people in the Vhembe district. Purposive sampling was used to select the four villages that participated in the study and simple; random sampling was used to select the respondents. A total of 400 respondents participated in the study; 227 of which were female and 173 were male. The following sexual risk behaviour indicators were identified (1) early sexual debut; (2) teenage pregnancy and (3) early marriage. It was found that young people expose themselves to sexual intercourse without condoms; and that they are likely to have sexual intercourse without a condom in return for reward; and to have sexual intercourse with a famous person. Approximately 20of the sexually active respondents had used substances before sexual intercourse. Alcohol and marijuana ('dagga') were most commonly used amongst those respondents taking substances before sexual intercourse; and these were used predominantly in coerced and forced sexual intercourse

Knowledge; Attitude and Practices of Adolescent Secondary School Students in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State of HIV/AIDS

INTRODUCTION: Adolescents have a tendency to engage in high risk sexual and drug-use behaviour; and with a poor health-seeking behaviour; they continue to present the highest number of new cases of HIV reported in Africa.OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge; attitude and practise of adolescent secondary school students towards AIDS.METHOD: A cross sectional study was carried out on 358 senior secondary students selected by multistage sampling. A researcher administered semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection.RESULTS: All had heard of AIDS; of which 40cited the media as source of information. Seventy four percent knew the cause to be a virus; 63could differentiate between AIDS and HIV; over 85knew of transmission through sex; mother to child; contaminated blood; and contaminated needles; 59cited kissing. Weight loss was the most common symptom (85) mentioned. Over 76knew AIDS to be untreatable. Over 75knew methods to prevent spread of which 23cited sex with a virgin; 61did not know anyone infected with the virus; 58felt infected persons should not be allowed to stay in the community; 61agreed to continue a relationship with an infected friend; 83agreed to care for an infected relative. Of 22who agreed they were sexually active; 66and 12had one and multiple partners respectively. Regarding protection; 30used condom always; 48sometimes and 23never. Twenty-one percent had ever had sex under influence of alcohol or marijuana. 55were willing to be tested; however none had been tested.CONCLUSION: Senior secondary school students in Uvwie have a fairly good knowledge of AIDS; and poor attitude towards people living with AIDS. Few are sexually active and are engaged in unsafe sex

Impact of health education on sexual risk behaviour of secondary school students in Jos, Nigeria

BACKGROUND:Secondary school students are a high risk group for HIV transmission. They could also be easily reached with health education interventions. There is as yet no global consensus on the nature, content and effectiveness of this intervention among this group. It is also not known how effective this intervention is in reducing sexual risk behaviour among secondary school students in our environment. The aim of the study was to find out the impact of HIV/AIDS health education intervention on the sexual risk behaviour of secondary school students.METHODS:This was an interventional follow-up study among senior secondary school students with controls selected from similar schools. The students' sexual risk behaviour was assessed at baseline followed by a HIV/AIDS health education intervention. The risk behaviour was then re-assessed 6 months after the intervention.RESULT: Students who lived in urban areas and those who lived with both parents were less likely to have experienced sexual intercourse at baseline than those who lived in the rural areas (but school in Jos during school sessions), and those who lived with single parents and other relations. Health education delayed sexual debut among students who were sexually naïve but had no effect on the sexual activity of those who were already sexually experienced.CONCLUSION:Health Education intervention has a place in reducing secondary school students' sexual risk behaviourif commenced before their sexual debut