Mental health and HIV sexual risk behavior among patrons of alcohol serving venues in Cape Town, South Africa

Date
2011
Authors
Sikkema K.J.
Watt M.H.
Meade C.S.
Ranby K.W.
Kalichman S.C.
Skinner D.
Pieterse D.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Background: Alcohol-serving venues in South Africa provide a location for HIV prevention interventions due to risk factors of patrons in these establishments. Understanding the association between mental health and risk behaviors in these settings may inform interventions that address alcohol use and HIV prevention. Methods: Participants (n = 738) were surveyed in 6 alcohol-serving venues in Cape Town to assess post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression symptoms, traumatic experiences, sexual behavior, and substance use. Logistic regression models examined whether traumatic experiences predicted PTSD and depression. Generalized linear models examined whether substance use, PTSD, and depressive symptoms predicted unprotected sexual intercourse. Men and women were analyzed separately. Results: Participants exhibited high rates of traumatic experiences, PTSD, depression, alcohol consumption, and HIV risk behaviors. For men, PTSD was associated with being hit by a sex partner, physical child abuse, sexual child abuse and HIV diagnosis; depression was associated with being hit by a sex partner, forced sex and physical child abuse. For women, both PTSD and depression were associated with being hit by a sex partner, forced sex, and physical child abuse. Unprotected sexual intercourse was associated with age, frequency and quantity of alcohol use, drug use, and PTSD for men and frequency and quantity of alcohol use, depression, and PTSD for women. Conclusion: Mental health in this setting was poor and was associated with sexual risk behavior. Treating mental health and substance-use problems may aid in reducing HIV infection. Sexual assault prevention and treatment after sexual assault may strengthen HIV prevention efforts. © 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Description
Keywords
alcohol, HIV prevention, HIV/AIDS, mental health, South Africa, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, adult, alcohol consumption, article, child sexual abuse, controlled study, depression, disease association, drug use, female, human, Human immunodeficiency virus infection, logistic regression analysis, major clinical study, male, mental health, posttraumatic stress disorder, priority journal, risk factor, sexual behavior, sexual crime, sexual intercourse, South Africa
Citation
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes
57
3
http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-79959696115&partnerID=40&md5=6fd3d0135dbf9306d464baef63d71d9d