Modelling the effects of heavy alcohol consumption on the transmission dynamics of gonorrhea

Abstract

Prior studies have indicated that heavy alcohol drinkers are likely to engage in risky sexual behaviours and thus, more likely to get sexually transmitted infections (STIs) than social drinkers. Here, we formulate a deterministic model for evaluating the impact of heavy alcohol drinking on the reemerging gonorrhea epidemic. The model is rigorously analysed, showing the existence of a globally asymptotically stable disease-free equilibrium whenever the reproductive number is less than unity. If the disease threshold number is greater than unity, a unique endemic equilibrium exists and is globally asymptotically stable in the interior of the feasible region and the disease persists at endemic proportions if it is initially present. Both analytical and numerical results are provided to ascertain whether heavy alcohol drinking has an impact on the transmission dynamics of gonorrhea.