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Haffejee F, Ducray J, Basdav J, Kell C. Factors influencing the adoption of HIV prevention measures in low socio-economic communities of inner-city Durban, South Africa. SAHARA J 2023; 20:2185806. [PMID: 36880791 PMCID: PMC10013356 DOI: 10.1080/17290376.2023.2185806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
South Africa is the epicentre of the HIV pandemic. Although there have been health promotion education campaigns to reduce HIV incidence, these have not achieved the desired outcomes. When exploring the effectiveness of these campaigns, it is useful not only to examine HIV knowledge, but also to explore the relationship between that knowledge and health-related behaviour. This study aimed to determine the (1) level of knowledge of HIV prevention, (2) relationship between the level of knowledge and the adoption of these behaviours and (3) barriers to sexual behaviour change of vulnerable women in Durban's city centre, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A mixed methods approach was used to collect information from a marginalised population of women (n = 109) attending a non-governmental organisation, which provides for the needs of people from low socio-economic strata. Data were collected during September 2018 at a wellness day programme at the centre. A total of 109 women, over the age of 18 years answered the questionnaire. Knowledge of HIV transmission was high, with majority of participants correctly identifying modes of transmission. Almost all the participants (91.2%) had been tested for HIV, with 68.8% tested a minimum of three times. Despite this, sexual risk behaviour was high. Despite the high level of knowledge of HIV transmission, there was no relationship between HIV knowledge and adoption of behaviours for the prevention of HIV transmission (p = .457). However, bivariate analysis showed an association between transactional sex and living in informal housing (OR = 31.94, 95% CI: 5.65-180.63, p < .001). Living in informal housing was also associated with having multiple current sexual partners (OR = 6.30, 95% CI: 1.39-28.42, p = .02). Multivariate analysis, after adjusting for all other factors, indicated that the odds of having transactional sex was increased by 23 times in those who did not have formal housing (OR = 23.306, 95% CI: 3.97-144.59, p = .001). Qualitative responses showed that women perceived poverty as the overarching factor determining the lifestyle choices which impacted their health. They indicated a need for employment opportunities and provision of housing to alleviate both poverty as well as transactional sex. Although, participants from this study understood the benefits of the protective behaviours to prevent HIV transmission, economic and social factors do not afford this vulnerable group the opportunity nor the motivation to adopt such behaviours. In the current climate of increasing unemployment and escalating GBV, urgent interventions are needed in terms of employment opportunities and empowerment drives to prevent an increase in HIV transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Firoza Haffejee
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa
| | - Jennifer Ducray
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa
| | - Jyotika Basdav
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa
| | - Colette Kell
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa
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Seidu AA, Agbaglo E, Dadzie LK, Tetteh JK, Ahinkorah BO. Self-reported sexually transmitted infections among sexually active men in Ghana. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:993. [PMID: 34039317 PMCID: PMC8157633 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11030-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In sub-Saharan Africa, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) other than HIV are major public health problems. This study, therefore, sought to assess the prevalence and factors associated with self-reported STIsamong sexually active men in Ghana. Methods Data from the 2014 Ghana demographic and health survey wereused to conduct the study. This research included a total of 3051 sexually active men aged 15–59 years. Self-reported STI was the outcome variable. The data were analyzed using both descriptive (frequencies and percentages) and inferential (binary logistic regression) analysis. Results The prevalence of self-reported STIs in the past 12 months preceding the survey was 6.0% (CI:4.7–6.8). Compared to men aged 45-59 years, those aged 25–34 (aOR = 2.96, CI: 1.64–5.35), 15–24 (aOR = 2.19, CI: 1.13–4.26), and 35–44 (aOR = 2.29, CI: 1.23–4.24) were more likely to report an STI. Men who had 2 or more sexual partners apart from their spouse were more likely to report an STI compared to those with no other partner apart from spouse (aOR = 4.24, CI: 2.52–7.14). However, those who had their first sex when they were 20 years and above (AOR = 0.66, CI: 0.47–0.93) and men who read newspaper/magazine had lower odds (aOR = 0.53, CI: 0.37–0.77) of reporting STIs compared to those who had sex below 20 and those who did not read newspaper/magazine respectively. Conclusion The study has revealed a relatively low prevalence of self-reported STI among sexually active men in Ghana. Sexually active men aged 25–34 years, those whose age at first sex is below 20 years and those with two or more sexual partners apart from their spouse had higher odds of reporting STIs. However, reading a newspaper was found to be positive in reducing the odds of reporting STIs. To reduce STIs among sexually active men in Ghana, it is important for health systems and stakeholders to consider these factors and put in place measures to mitigate those that put men at risk of STIs and encourage the adoption of the protective factors. Mass media can be used as a useful avenue for encouraging men to report STIs in order to avoid transmitting them to their partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul-Aziz Seidu
- Department of Population and Health, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana. .,College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Ebenezer Agbaglo
- Department of English, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Louis Kobina Dadzie
- Department of Population and Health, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Justice Kanor Tetteh
- Department of Population and Health, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Bright Opoku Ahinkorah
- The Australian Centre for Public and Population Health Research (ACPPHR), Faculty of Health, School of Public Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia
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Seidu AA, Ahinkorah BO, Dadzie LK, Tetteh JK, Agbaglo E, Okyere J, Salihu T, Oteng KF, Bugase E, Osei SA, Hagan JE, Schack T. A multi-country cross-sectional study of self-reported sexually transmitted infections among sexually active men in sub-Saharan Africa. BMC Public Health 2020; 20:1884. [PMID: 33287785 PMCID: PMC7722450 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-09996-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Despite the importance of self-reporting health in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) control, studies on self-reported sexually transmitted infections (SR-STIs) are scanty, especially in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study assessed the prevalence and factors associated with SR-STIs among sexually active men (SAM) in SSA. Methods Analysis was done based on the current Demographic and Health Survey of 27 countries in SSA conducted between 2010 and 2018. A total of 130,916 SAM were included in the analysis. The outcome variable was SR-STI. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed with a statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results On the average, the prevalence of STIs among SAM in SSA was 3.8%, which ranged from 13.5% in Liberia to 0.4% in Niger. Sexually-active men aged 25–34 (AOR = 1.77, CI:1.6–1.95) were more likely to report STIs, compared to those aged 45 or more years. Respondents who were working (AOR = 1.24, CI: 1.12–1.38) and those who had their first sex at ages below 20 (AOR = 1.20, CI:1.11–1.29) were more likely to report STIs, compared to those who were not working and those who had their first sex when they were 20 years and above. Also, SAM who were not using condom had higher odds of STIs (AOR = 1.35, CI: 1.25–1.46), compared to those who were using condom. Further, SAM with no comprehensive HIV and AIDS knowledge had higher odds (AOR = 1.43, CI: 1.08–1.22) of STIs, compared to those who reported to have HIV/AIDS knowledge. Conversely, the odds of reporting STIs was lower among residents of rural areas (AOR = 0.93, CI: 0.88–0.99) compared to their counterparts in urban areas, respondents who had no other sexual partner (AOR = 0.32, CI: 0.29–0.35) compared to those who had 2 or more sexual partners excluding their spouses, those who reported not paying for sex (AOR = 0.55, CI: 0.51–0.59) compared to those who paid for sex, and those who did not read newspapers (AOR = 0.93, CI: 0.86–0.99) compared to those who read. Conclusion STIs prevalence across the selected countries in SSA showed distinct cross-country variations. Current findings suggest that STIs intervention priorities must be given across countries with high prevalence. Several socio-demographic factors predicted SR-STIs. To reduce the prevalence of STIs among SAM in SSA, it is prudent to take these factors (e.g., age, condom use, employment status, HIV/AIDS knowledge) into consideration when planning health education and STIs prevention strategies among SAM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul-Aziz Seidu
- Department of Population and Health, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana. .,College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Bright Opoku Ahinkorah
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia
| | - Louis Kobina Dadzie
- Department of Population and Health, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Justice Kanor Tetteh
- Department of Population and Health, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Ebenezer Agbaglo
- Department of English, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Joshua Okyere
- Department of Population and Health, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Tarif Salihu
- Department of Population and Health, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Kenneth Fosu Oteng
- Ashanti Regional Health Directorate, Ghana Health Service, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Eustace Bugase
- Department of Health Policy Planning and Management, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Sampson Aboagye Osei
- Department of Geography and Regional Planning, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - John Elvis Hagan
- Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.,Neurocognition and Action-Biomechanics-Research Group, Faculty of Psychology and Sport Sciences, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Thomas Schack
- Neurocognition and Action-Biomechanics-Research Group, Faculty of Psychology and Sport Sciences, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
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