Sexual behaviours and the spread of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV

Background:
To assess the consistency in responses relating to the female sex workers’ HIV risk perception and their condom use behaviour in two high HIV prevalence Indian States. The research question is why the female sex workers take HIV risk chance though they have a strong perception about the HIV risk associated with unsafe sex?..
Methods:
This paper is based on secondary data collected for the major survey among FSW in Andhra Pradesh (276) and in Karnataka (218). The major consistency response is “Risk Perception with use of condom” and the inconsistency response is “Risk Perception without use of Condom”.
Results:
The percentage of consistent responses was 31 in Andhra Pradesh as against 48 percent in Karnataka State. The major consistent response was a strong risk perception accompanied by condom use, whereas the inconsistency mostly refers to the lack of risk perception with use of condom implying more conscious efforts. But the group with a strong perception not accompanied by condom use is really programme target.
Conclusion:
Protecting the latter category should be prioritised in intervention programme. An operation research is needed to analyse the dynamics of FSWS in this regard.

The commonly used variable to analyse risky sexual practices of male migrants is consistent condom use. Literature indicates the importance of economic status and other socio-demographic variables, duration of migration, type of occupation, substance abuse, type of sexual partners and exposure to prevention messages as some of the key explanatory variables. Hitherto, the choice of being in a non-monogamous relationship has been clubbed with the decision to use a condom in analysing the determinants of safe sex behaviour. We assume a two-stage sequential decision-making process to understand risky sex: (a) decision to be in a non-monogamous relationship and (b) the decision to engage in safe sex by choosing to use a condom. The results indicate that fewer variables – except education and knowledge – impact on CCU once selection bias regarding who enters into sexual alliances outside of marriage or regular partners is controlled for.

This paper examines the pattern and factors of contrastive sexuality risk dispositions by migratory population between their domestic and destination arenas, given the dearth of research on this theme, especially in the context of HIV/AIDS and international migration. The paper used stratified field survey to obtain its sample of 450 Lagos-based international traders. Its major question was to determine whether sub-group differences characterize sexuality risk dispositions of the study population between their domestic and international arenas, and the extent to which such differences reflect vital differences in their socio-economic and trip-related attributes. Using a grouping method, two groups were created from the study population. The first group comprises locally and internationally vulnerable sexuality group, while the second group is vulnerable only domestically. First, the two groups are compared in terms of specific domestic sexuality risk events and the degrees of committal second, it selects relevant conceptualized variables to assess the extent to which either socio-economic or trip-related attributes may assist in understanding the phenomenon of contrastive risky sexuality practices by the two groups. The paper discusses the HIV/IDS intervention policy and programme relevance of the findings.

This paper uses data from the 2008 Botswana AIDS Impact Survey (BAISIII) to investigate the impact of knowledge of HIV status on sexual and HIV risk behaviors in Botswana. The logistic regression net effects model shows that knowing that one is HIV positive was associated reduction in the odds of having had sex with two or more people during the year leading to the survey; reporting two or more current partners and inconsistent condom use. Being HIV positive and not knowing it, was associated with increased likelihood of having had sex with two or more people during the year leading to the survey and having two or more current sexual partners, compared to respondents who were HIV negative and did know it.
Knowing one’s HIV negative status was associated with marginally increased likelihood of having had sex with two or more people during the year leading to the survey; having two or more current sexual partners, and a decline in likelihood of inconsistent condom use, compared to respondents who were HIV negative and didn’t know it. While promotion of HIV VCT has the potential to reduce sexual and HIV risk behaviours in Botswana, there is also a need to investigate the potential for sexual dis-inhibition associated with knowledge of an HIV negative status.

Condoms have been proven to be effective in prevention of HIV and STIs. Using data from a bio-behavioural survey (2009-10), we examined the extent of condom breakage and factors associated with the breakage among men who have sex with men (MSM) in three Indian states. We analyzed data for 3,812 MSM identified from cruising sites, selected using time location cluster sampling. Of the total MSM who ever used a condom, 16.8% reported condom breakage in the previous month in the three states: 22.2% in Maharashtra, 13.2% in Andhra Pradesh and 28.3% in Tamil Nadu. Results from the multivariate analysis show that MSM were much more likely to report condom breakage if they were above 25 years of age (AOR: 1.31; C.I-1.10, 1.55), consumed alcohol (AOR: 1.40; C.I-1.12, 1.74) and had any STI (either syphilis/NG/CT-AOR:1.54; C.I-1.08, 2.20). No significant association was observed between condom breakage and exposure to HIV prevention intervention and use of oil/water based lubricants. Condom breakage rate is high among this sample of MSM and younger MSM especially need to be provided targeted information about proper use of condoms and to avoid breakage. Data suggest alcohol use may be related to condom breakage and hence prevention interventions need to address alcohol abuse.

The purpose of this article was to investigate achievements made with regard to sexual behaviour change among young people, particularly reductions in multiple sexual partnerships, non-condom use, and other risky sexual behaviours

The data used in this paper were derived from the Botswana AIDS Impact Surveys (BAIS) which were carried out to provide information on the topics related to HIV/AIDS. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. Standardization procedure was used to observe changes in the selected sexual behaviours.

The results showed that there were declines in percentage of young people aged 15-24 who reported ever having sex; the percentage of young people who have had sexual intercourse before the age of 15; and the percentage of young people who reported the use of condoms at their last sexual intercourse. However on the downside, there were no achievements in the area of multiple sexual partnerships and the percentage of young people who have had sex with a non-marital, non-cohabiting sexual partner in the last 12 months.

It is apparent that although there are signs of positive changes achieved through the implementation of behaviour change interventions, there are still areas where efforts need to be intensified to achieve the desired results.

In light of the increasing ‘feminisation’ of the HIV epidemic, this paper aims to increase understanding with regard to the factors which help shape the context of vulnerability in sub-Saharan Africa. Relatively few studies have examined the relationship between gender-related variables and HIV prevalence at the population level and existing studies have reported conflicting results, focus on relatively few issues, and are usually limited to one setting. The sex ratio in HIV prevalence has received even less attention despite substantial variation between countries. This paper focuses mainly on gender disparity in the 15-24 age group as this is not only the age group in which women are argued to be particularly vulnerable, but also in which gender disparity is most pronounced. The influence of several gender-related variables is explored using partial correlation coefficients and linear regression. The analysis controls for a number of variables which may influence the ratio of female to male HIV prevalence including the maturity of the epidemic, prevalence of other STIs and gender differences in accessing ART as well as other social and institutional differences.

Adolescents and young people in Zimbabwe, like in most sub-Saharan Africa, are at high risk of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Despite efforts by government and pressure groups in Zimbabwe regarding this issue, evidence on the ground shows that the greatest number of victims of the infections are adolescents, youths and women. This paper explores and explains the factors hindering the reduction of vulnerability of adolescents and young people in Harare, Zimbabwe. Much of the data was drawn using a desktop study. However, in-depth interviews with officials from government and selected pressure groups have been used to complement the desktop findings. It is noted that the reduction of vulnerability of adolescents and young people does not only call for behaviour change, as most pressure groups are advocating for, but for cultural and religious transformation in how sex and sexuality is viewed. Unless the cultural and religious belief systems are encouraged to understand the need to discuss sex and sexuality openly without stigma then will we realize reduction in adolescent and young people vulnerability to HIV and S.T.Is.

The 2011 HIV sentinel report for Ghana reveals that HIV prevalence rates in five out of ten regions in Ghana recorded an increase over the 2010 figures. Also, prevalence among young persons aged between 15- 24 years (was used as a proxy for new infections) increased from 1.5 percent in 2010 to 1.7 per cent in 2011. This clearly suggests that the HIV/AIDS situation in Ghana is unstable and therefore has the tendency to increase if measures towards prevention are not intensified. Reducing number of sexual partners, regular use of condom, avoiding sharing needles during intravenous drug use, and HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) are seen as key in fighting the epidemic.
It has been strongly argued that that young people’s inability to reduce risky behaviour can be attributed to the poor knowledge about the HIV/AIDS. Against this background, the University of Cape Coast for the past four years, offers a compulsory HIV/AIDS course for all first year undergraduates students.
Using cross sectional primary data from 600 students randomly selected from the University, the study finds out whether or not the course has influenced students’ behaviour.

Since 2003, the HIV Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) has been identified as one of the key strategies in the HIV/AIDS prevention, control and care programmes in Ghana. However, utilization of this service is low among Ghanaian youth. This study examined predictors associated with VCT utilization among youth in Ghana. This study utilized quantitative and qualitative data in a cross-sectional survey in three sub-metropolitan areas in Kumasi. Using a multi-variate regression, evidence from 120 respondents showed potential factors associated with VCT utilization. The qualitative data were subjected to a content analysis through direct quotes. The results suggest that less than 30% of the youth had ever tested for HIV through VC. Women were more likely to avail themselves for counselling testing than men. Psychological and emotional trauma experienced by the seropositive, lack of confidentiality, proximity to VCT sites, HIV-related stigma inter alia, were found to be strongly associated with HIV VCT in the study prefecture. VCT utilization among the youth in Ghana was low and affected by HIV/AIDS-related stigma and residence. In order to increase VCT acceptability, HIV/AIDS prevention and control programs in the country should focus on reducing HIV/AIDS-related stigma.