Abstract
BackgroundNamibia’s HIV prevalence is 13.3 %. Alcohol is associated with sexual risk-taking, leading to increased HIV risk. Baseline sexual behaviors, HIV and alcohol knowledge, and self-perceived HIV risk were examined among men reporting high-risk drinking in Katutura, Namibia.MethodsHIV negative men, ≥ 18 years, were screened for harmful or hazardous levels of drinking and >1 recent sex partner prior to randomization into control or intervention arm. SAS 9.3 and R 3.01 were used for descriptive baseline cohort analyses.ResultsA total of 501 participants who met criteria were included in analysis (mean Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test [AUDIT] =12.4). HIV and alcohol knowledge were high with the majority (>85 and 89.8–98 %, respectively) of respondents correctly answering assessment questions. Despite high knowledge levels, 66.7 % of men felt they were at some or high risk of HIV acquisition. Among those respondents, 56.5 % stated often wanting to have sex after drinking and 40.3 % stated sex was better when drunk. Among respondents with non-steady partners [n = 188], 44.1 % of last sexual encounters occurred while the participant was drunk and condoms were not used 32.5 % of those times. Among persons who were not drunk condoms were not used 13.3 % of those times.ConclusionsSex with casual partners was high. Inconsistent condom use and alcohol use before sex were frequently reported. Increased emphasis on alcohol risk-reduction strategies, including drinking due to peer pressure and unsafe sexual behaviors, is needed.
Highlights
IntroductionAlcohol is associated with sexual risk-taking, leading to increased HIV risk
Research has repeatedly shown that alcohol use is related to sexual risk-taking behavior, including increased number of sexual partners, inconsistent condom use, and increased incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) [3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10]
Of the 573 men eligible to participate in the study, 572 were included (99.8 %) and 550 (96.2 %) consented to participate in the study
Summary
Alcohol is associated with sexual risk-taking, leading to increased HIV risk. HIV and alcohol knowledge, and self-perceived HIV risk were examined among men reporting high-risk drinking in Katutura, Namibia. Located in sub-Saharan Africa, Namibia has one of the highest HIV adult prevalences in the world, with an estimated adult prevalence of 13.3 % [1]. Alcohol use has a well-established association with sexual risk-taking that can lead to HIV acquisition and transmission [2]. Research has repeatedly shown that alcohol use is related to sexual risk-taking behavior, including increased number of sexual partners, inconsistent condom use, and increased incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) [3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10]. Beliefs about the effects of alcohol use on sexual activity and the perceived degree of alcohol intoxication moderate both the motivations to engage in safer sex and the behavioral skills needed to negotiate condom use with a sexual partner [12]
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