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Pauley A, Metcalf M, Buono M, Rent S, Mikindo M, Sawe Y, Kilasara J, Boshe J, Staton CA, Mmbaga BT. "When a man drinks alcohol it's cool but when a woman drinks she is a hoe": A qualitative exploration of alcohol, gender, stigma, and sexual assault in Moshi, Tanzania. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 4:e0002382. [PMID: 38421959 PMCID: PMC10903863 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Alcohol's ever-increasing global use poses a distinct threat to human well-being, with intake and associated burdens rising especially quickly in low- and middle-income countries like Tanzania. Prior research has shown alcohol use and related consequences differ by gender in Moshi, Tanzania, with important implications for both clinical care and future alcohol-reduction interventions. This study builds upon this knowledge by providing a deeper understanding of how gender differences affect alcohol-related stigma and sexual assault among Emergency Department (ED) and Reproductive Health Center (RHC) patients at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC) in Moshi. In-depth interviews were conducted among ED and RHC KCMC patients (n = 19) selected for participation via purposive sampling. A mix of inductive and deductive coding schemes was used to identify themes and subthemes. All data were analyzed through a grounded theory approach. Gender roles that linked men with financial responsibilities and women with child caretaking led to different expectations on alcohol intake, with alcohol use encouraged for men but vilified for women. Women who drank, for example, were deemed poor mothers and undesirable spouses. Patients likewise emphasized that both alcohol-related stigma and sexual violence disproportionately impacted women, the latter fueled through alcohol use, with serious and lasting acts of discrimination and isolation from community members seen among women alcohol users but not for men. Women alcohol users in Moshi are subject to severe social consequences, facing disproportionate stigma and sexual violence as compared to men. Alcohol-related treatment for women should be mindful of the disproportionate burdens present in this context while treatment for men should be cognizant of the social pressures to drink. Strategies to address and/or mitigate these factors should be incorporated in subsequent care and interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alena Pauley
- Global Emergency Medicine Innovation and Implementation Research Center, Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Madeline Metcalf
- Global Emergency Medicine Innovation and Implementation Research Center, Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Mia Buono
- Global Emergency Medicine Innovation and Implementation Research Center, Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Sharla Rent
- Global Emergency Medicine Innovation and Implementation Research Center, Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Duke Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | | | - Yvonne Sawe
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center, Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Joseph Kilasara
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center, Moshi, Tanzania
- Department of Clinical Nursing, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Judith Boshe
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center, Moshi, Tanzania
- Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Catherine A. Staton
- Global Emergency Medicine Innovation and Implementation Research Center, Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Duke Department of Emergency Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Blandina T. Mmbaga
- Global Emergency Medicine Innovation and Implementation Research Center, Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center, Moshi, Tanzania
- Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Moshi, Tanzania
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Carels C, Florence M, Adams S, Savahl S. Alcohol Use as a Predictor of Risky Sexual Behaviour among Young Adults in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:7053. [PMID: 37998284 PMCID: PMC10671005 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20227053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between alcohol consumption and risky sexual behaviour (RSB). This study further aimed to examine whether alcohol use, gender, and employment status predicted RSB among young adults in the Cape Flats. A better understanding of these predictors could potentially lead to a more thorough comprehension of the relation between alcohol consumption and RSB among young adults within the South African context. The study employed a cross-sectional correlational survey design, with a sample of 1001 participants aged 18 to 25 (51% women), using the street-intercept method. Participants were selected using purposive sampling, with age and geographical location employed as inclusion criteria. We used the Self-Report Risky Sexual Behaviours Scale (SRSBS) and the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT), which were cognitively tested and modified, in English and Afrikaans. The data were analysed via multivariate multiple regression analysis in Stata. The key findings indicate that alcohol consumption is an important predictor of RSB. Alcohol consumption accounted for 23.22% of the variation in RSB. We also found that alcohol consumption and gender were significant (p < 0.1) predictors of RSB, but not employment status (p > 0.01). Being a woman decreased RSB. The model indicates that alcohol use and gender explain 18.41% of the variance in RSB. This study provides support for the growing body of research evidence that has established a significant link between alcohol consumption and RSB, highlighting the need for longitudinal research to determine patterns of risky drinking in the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra Carels
- Department of Psychology, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town 7535, South Africa
| | - Maria Florence
- Department of Psychology, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town 7535, South Africa
| | - Sabirah Adams
- Language Development Group, Centre for Higher Education Development, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
| | - Shazly Savahl
- Department of Psychology, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town 7535, South Africa
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Purgato M, Prina E, Ceccarelli C, Cadorin C, Abdulmalik JO, Amaddeo F, Arcari L, Churchill R, Jordans MJ, Lund C, Papola D, Uphoff E, van Ginneken N, Tol WA, Barbui C. Primary-level and community worker interventions for the prevention of mental disorders and the promotion of well-being in low- and middle-income countries. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2023; 10:CD014722. [PMID: 37873968 PMCID: PMC10594594 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd014722.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a significant research gap in the field of universal, selective, and indicated prevention interventions for mental health promotion and the prevention of mental disorders. Barriers to closing the research gap include scarcity of skilled human resources, large inequities in resource distribution and utilization, and stigma. OBJECTIVES To assess the effectiveness of delivery by primary workers of interventions for the promotion of mental health and universal prevention, and for the selective and indicated prevention of mental disorders or symptoms of mental illness in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). To examine the impact of intervention delivery by primary workers on resource use and costs. SEARCH METHODS We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Global Index Medicus, PsycInfo, WHO ICTRP, and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to 29 November 2021. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of primary-level and/or community health worker interventions for promoting mental health and/or preventing mental disorders versus any control conditions in adults and children in LMICs. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Standardized mean differences (SMD) or mean differences (MD) were used for continuous outcomes, and risk ratios (RR) for dichotomous data, using a random-effects model. We analyzed data at 0 to 1, 1 to 6, and 7 to 24 months post-intervention. For SMDs, 0.20 to 0.49 represented small, 0.50 to 0.79 moderate, and ≥ 0.80 large clinical effects. We evaluated the risk of bias (RoB) using Cochrane RoB2. MAIN RESULTS Description of studies We identified 113 studies with 32,992 participants (97 RCTs, 19,570 participants in meta-analyses) for inclusion. Nineteen RCTs were conducted in low-income countries, 27 in low-middle-income countries, 2 in middle-income countries, 58 in upper-middle-income countries and 7 in mixed settings. Eighty-three RCTs included adults and 30 RCTs included children. Cadres of primary-level workers employed primary care health workers (38 studies), community workers (71 studies), both (2 studies), and not reported (2 studies). Interventions were universal prevention/promotion in 22 studies, selective in 36, and indicated prevention in 55 RCTs. Risk of bias The most common concerns over risk of bias were performance bias, attrition bias, and reporting bias. Intervention effects 'Probably', 'may', or 'uncertain' indicates 'moderate-', 'low-', or 'very low-'certainty evidence. *Certainty of the evidence (using GRADE) was assessed at 0 to 1 month post-intervention as specified in the review protocol. In the abstract, we did not report results for outcomes for which evidence was missing or very uncertain. Adults Promotion/universal prevention, compared to usual care: - probably slightly reduced anxiety symptoms (MD -0.14, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.27 to -0.01; 1 trial, 158 participants) - may slightly reduce distress/PTSD symptoms (SMD -0.24, 95% CI -0.41 to -0.08; 4 trials, 722 participants) Selective prevention, compared to usual care: - probably slightly reduced depressive symptoms (SMD -0.69, 95% CI -1.08 to -0.30; 4 trials, 223 participants) Indicated prevention, compared to usual care: - may reduce adverse events (1 trial, 547 participants) - probably slightly reduced functional impairment (SMD -0.12, 95% CI -0.39 to -0.15; 4 trials, 663 participants) Children Promotion/universal prevention, compared to usual care: - may improve the quality of life (SMD -0.25, 95% CI -0.39 to -0.11; 2 trials, 803 participants) - may reduce adverse events (1 trial, 694 participants) - may slightly reduce depressive symptoms (MD -3.04, 95% CI -6 to -0.08; 1 trial, 160 participants) - may slightly reduce anxiety symptoms (MD -2.27, 95% CI -3.13 to -1.41; 1 trial, 183 participants) Selective prevention, compared to usual care: - probably slightly reduced depressive symptoms (SMD 0, 95% CI -0.16 to -0.15; 2 trials, 638 participants) - may slightly reduce anxiety symptoms (MD 4.50, 95% CI -12.05 to 21.05; 1 trial, 28 participants) - probably slightly reduced distress/PTSD symptoms (MD -2.14, 95% CI -3.77 to -0.51; 1 trial, 159 participants) Indicated prevention, compared to usual care: - decreased slightly functional impairment (SMD -0.29, 95% CI -0.47 to -0.10; 2 trials, 448 participants) - decreased slightly depressive symptoms (SMD -0.18, 95% CI -0.32 to -0.04; 4 trials, 771 participants) - may slightly reduce distress/PTSD symptoms (SMD 0.24, 95% CI -1.28 to 1.76; 2 trials, 448 participants). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS The evidence indicated that prevention interventions delivered through primary workers - a form of task-shifting - may improve mental health outcomes. Certainty in the evidence was influenced by the risk of bias and by substantial levels of heterogeneity. A supportive network of infrastructure and research would enhance and reinforce this delivery modality across LMICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Purgato
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- Cochrane Global Mental Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Eleonora Prina
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Caterina Ceccarelli
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Camilla Cadorin
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Amaddeo
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Rachel Churchill
- Cochrane Common Mental Disorders, Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, York, UK
| | - Mark Jd Jordans
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Crick Lund
- King's Global Health Institute, Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Davide Papola
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- Cochrane Global Mental Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Eleonora Uphoff
- Cochrane Common Mental Disorders, Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, York, UK
| | - Nadja van Ginneken
- Department of Primary Care and Mental Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Wietse Anton Tol
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Corrado Barbui
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- Cochrane Global Mental Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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Pauley A, Metcalf M, Buono M, Rent S, Mikindo M, Sawe Y, Kilasara J, Boshe J, Staton CA, Mmbaga BT. " When a man drinks alcohol it's cool but when a woman drinks she is a hoe": A Qualitative Exploration of Alcohol, Gender, Stigma, and Sexual Assault in Moshi, Tanzania. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.08.24.23294562. [PMID: 37693439 PMCID: PMC10491279 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.24.23294562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Background Alcohol's ever-increasing global use poses a distinct threat to human well-being, with intake and associated burdens rising especially quickly in low- and middle-income countries like Tanzania. Prior research has shown alcohol use and related consequences differ by gender in Moshi, Tanzania, with important implications for both clinical care and future alcohol-reduction interventions. This study builds upon this knowledge by providing a deeper understanding of how gender differences affect alcohol-related stigma and sexual assault among Emergency Department (ED) and Reproductive Health Center (RHC) patients at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC) in Moshi. Methods In-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted among ED and RHC KCMC patients (n = 19) selected for participation via purposive sampling. A mix of inductive and deductive coding schemes was used to identify themes and subthemes. All data were analyzed through a grounded theory approach. Results Gender roles that linked men with financial responsibilities and women with child caretaking led to different expectations on alcohol intake, with alcohol use normalized for men but vilified for women. Women who drank, for example, were deemed poor mothers and undesirable spouses. Patients likewise emphasized that both alcohol-related stigma and sexual violence disproportionately impacted women, the latter fueled through alcohol use, with serious and lasting acts of discrimination and isolation from community members seen among women alcohol users but not for men. Conclusion Women alcohol users in Moshi are subject to severe social consequences, facing disproportionate stigma and sexual violence as compared to men. Alcohol-related treatment for women should be mindful of the disproportionate burdens present in this context and incorporate strategies to address and/or mitigate these harms in subsequent care and interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alena Pauley
- Global Emergency Medicine Innovation and Implementation Research Center, Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
| | - Madeline Metcalf
- Global Emergency Medicine Innovation and Implementation Research Center, Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
| | - Mia Buono
- Global Emergency Medicine Innovation and Implementation Research Center, Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
| | - Sharla Rent
- Global Emergency Medicine Innovation and Implementation Research Center, Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
- Duke Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC USA
| | | | - Yvonne Sawe
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center, Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Joseph Kilasara
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center, Moshi, Tanzania
- Department of Clinical Nursing, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Judith Boshe
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center, Moshi, Tanzania
- Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Catherine A. Staton
- Global Emergency Medicine Innovation and Implementation Research Center, Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
- Duke Department of Emergency Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC USA
| | - Blandina T. Mmbaga
- Global Emergency Medicine Innovation and Implementation Research Center, Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center, Moshi, Tanzania
- Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Moshi, Tanzania
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Bose DL, Hundal A, Singh S, Singh S, Seth K, Hadi SU, Saran A, Joseph J, Goyal K, Salve S. Evidence and gap map report: Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) interventions for strengthening HIV prevention and research among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). CAMPBELL SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS 2023; 19:e1297. [PMID: 36911864 PMCID: PMC9831290 DOI: 10.1002/cl2.1297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), aged 15-24 years, are disproportionately affected by HIV and other sexual and reproductive health (SRH) risks due to varying social, cultural, and economic factors that affect their choices and shape their knowledge, understanding, and practices with regard to their health. Socio-Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC) interventions targeted at strengthening the capabilities of individuals and their networks have supported the demand and uptake of prevention services and participation in biomedical research. However, despite growing global recognition of the domain, high-quality evidence on the effectiveness of SBCC remains scattered. This evidence and gap map (EGM) report characterizes the evidence base on SBCC interventions for strengthening HIV Prevention and Research among AGYW in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), identifying evidence gaps and outlining the scope of future research and program design. OBJECTIVES The objectives of the proposed EGM are to: (a) identify and map existing EGMs in the use of diverse SBCC strategies to strengthen the adoption of HIV prevention measures and participation in research among AGYW in LMICs and (b) identify areas where more interventions and evidence are needed to inform the design of future SBCC strategies and programs for AGYW engagement in HIV prevention and research. METHODS This EGM is based on a comprehensive search of systematic reviews and impact evaluations corresponding to a range of interventions and outcomes-aimed at engaging AGYW in HIV prevention and research - that were published in LMICs from January 2000 to April 2021. Based on guidance for producing a Campbell Collaboration EGM, the intervention and outcome framework was designed in consultation with a group of experts. These interventions were categorized across four broad intervention themes: mass-media, community-based, interpersonal, and Information Communication and Technology (ICT)/Digital Media-based interventions. They were further sub-categorized into 15 intervention categories. Included studies looked at 23 unique behavioral and health outcomes such as knowledge attitude and skills, relationship dynamics, household dynamics, health care services, and health outcomes and research engagement. The EGM is presented as a matrix in which the rows are intervention categories/sub-categories, and the columns are outcome domains/subdomains. Each cell is mapped to an intervention targeted at outcomes. Additional filters like region, country, study design, age group, funding agency, influencers, population group, publication status, study confidence, setting, and year of publication have been added. SELECTION CRITERIA To be eligible, studies must have tested the effectiveness of SBCC interventions at engaging AGYW in LMICs in HIV prevention and research. The study sample must have consisted of AGYW between the ages of 15-24, as defined by UNAIDS. Both experimental (random assignment) and quasi-experimental studies that included a comparison group were eligible. Relevant outcomes included those at the individual, influencer, and institutional levels, along with those targeting research engagement and prevention-related outcomes. RESULTS This EGM comprises 415 impact evaluations and 43 systematic reviews. Interventions like peer-led interactions, counseling, and community dialogues were the most dominant intervention sub-types. Despite increased digital penetration use of media and technology-driven interventions are relatively less studied. Most of the interventions were delivered by peers, health care providers, and educators, largely in school-based settings, and in many cases are part of sex-education curricula. Evidence across geographies was mostly concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa (70%). Most measured outcomes focused on disease-related knowledge dissemination and enhancing awareness of available prevention options/strategies. These included messaging around consistent condom use, limiting sexual partners, routine testing, and awareness. Very few studies were able to include psychographic, social, and contextual factors influencing AGYW health behaviors and decisions, especially those measuring the impact of social and gender norms, relationship dynamics, and household dynamics-related outcomes. Outcomes related to engagement in the research were least studied. CONCLUSION This EGM highlights that evidence is heavily concentrated within the awareness-intent spectrum of behavior change and gets lean for outcomes situated within the intent-action and the action-habit formation spectrum of the behavior change continuum. Most of the evidence was concentrated on increasing awareness, knowledge, and building risk perception around SRH domains, however, fewer studies focused on strengthening the agency and self-efficacy of individuals. Similarly, evidence on extrinsic factors-such as strengthening social and community norms, relationships, and household dynamics-that determine individual thought and action such as negotiation and life skills were also found to be less populated. Few studies explore the effectiveness of these interventions across diverse AGYW identities, like pregnant women and new mothers, sex workers, and people living with HIV, leading to limited understanding of the use of these interventions across multiple user segments including key influencers such as young men, partners, families, religious leaders, and community elders was relatively low. There is a need for better quality evidence that accounts for the diversity of experiences within these populations to understand what interventions work, for whom, and toward what outcome. Further, the evidence for use of digital and mass-media tools remains poorly populated. Given the increasing penetration of these tools and growing media literacy on one end, with widening gender-based gaps on the other, it is imperative to gather more high-quality evidence on their effectiveness. Timely evidence generation can help leverage these platforms appropriately and enable intervention designs that are responsive to changing communication ecologies of AGYW. SBCC can play a critical role in helping researchers meaningfully engage and collaborate with communities as equal stakeholders, however, this remains poorly evidenced and calls for investigation and investment. A full list of abbreviations and acronyms are available in Supporting Information: Appendix F.
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Wechsberg WM, van der Drift I, Howard BN, Myers B, Browne FA, Bonner CP, Carney T, Ndirangu J, Washio Y. Gender and Context Matter: Behavioral and Structural Interventions for People Who Use Alcohol and Other Drugs in Africa. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:8661. [PMID: 35886515 PMCID: PMC9316816 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19148661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Heavy alcohol consumption and other drug use are prominent across Africa and increase the risk of exposure to violence, HIV acquisition, and other life-threatening injuries. This review synthesizes evidence on alcohol and other drug (AOD) interventions in Africa; evaluates the differences between interventions that do and do not specifically target populations that use AODs; and highlights the impact of comprehensive vs. brief interventions and those that address syndemic issues from a gender and contextualized lens. Literature searches were conducted to identify research outcomes of randomized interventions published between January 2010 and May 2022 that address AOD use in Africa. Thirty-five full-text articles were included in this review. Most of the identified research studies were concentrated in a few countries. Most studies were conducted in South Africa. Many of the studies comprised brief interventions. However, the most comprehensive interventions were the most effective for AOD outcomes. Several studies indicated the importance of addressing AOD use alongside gender-based violence, mental health needs, gender roles, and other social determinants that affect health outcomes. Intervening on AOD use and addressing social determinants from a gender and contextually relevant perspective is essential to ensuring the long-term health and well-being of people in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendee M. Wechsberg
- Substance Use, Gender and Applied Research Program, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA; (I.v.d.D.); (B.N.H.); (F.A.B.); (C.P.B.); (J.N.); (Y.W.)
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Psychology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Isa van der Drift
- Substance Use, Gender and Applied Research Program, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA; (I.v.d.D.); (B.N.H.); (F.A.B.); (C.P.B.); (J.N.); (Y.W.)
| | - Brittni N. Howard
- Substance Use, Gender and Applied Research Program, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA; (I.v.d.D.); (B.N.H.); (F.A.B.); (C.P.B.); (J.N.); (Y.W.)
| | - Bronwyn Myers
- Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town 7580, South Africa; (B.M.); (T.C.)
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
- Curtin enAble Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth 6102, Australia
| | - Felicia A. Browne
- Substance Use, Gender and Applied Research Program, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA; (I.v.d.D.); (B.N.H.); (F.A.B.); (C.P.B.); (J.N.); (Y.W.)
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Courtney Peasant Bonner
- Substance Use, Gender and Applied Research Program, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA; (I.v.d.D.); (B.N.H.); (F.A.B.); (C.P.B.); (J.N.); (Y.W.)
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Tara Carney
- Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town 7580, South Africa; (B.M.); (T.C.)
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
| | - Jacqueline Ndirangu
- Substance Use, Gender and Applied Research Program, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA; (I.v.d.D.); (B.N.H.); (F.A.B.); (C.P.B.); (J.N.); (Y.W.)
| | - Yukiko Washio
- Substance Use, Gender and Applied Research Program, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA; (I.v.d.D.); (B.N.H.); (F.A.B.); (C.P.B.); (J.N.); (Y.W.)
- Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
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Schaaf M, Boydell V, Topp SM, Iyer A, Sen G, Askew I. A summative content analysis of how programmes to improve the right to sexual and reproductive health address power. BMJ Glob Health 2022; 7:bmjgh-2022-008438. [PMID: 35443940 PMCID: PMC9021801 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2022-008438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Power shapes all aspects of global health. The concept of power is not only useful in understanding the current situation, but it is also regularly mobilised in programmatic efforts that seek to change power relations. This paper uses summative content analysis to describe how sexual and reproductive health (SRH) programmes in low-income and middle-income countries explicitly and implicitly aim to alter relations of power. METHODS Content analysis is a qualitative approach to analysing textual data; in our analysis, peer-reviewed articles that describe programmes aiming to alter power relations to improve SRH constituted the data. We searched three databases, ultimately including 108 articles. We extracted the articles into a spreadsheet that included basic details about the paper and the programme, including what level of the social ecological model programme activities addressed. RESULTS The programmes reviewed reflect a diversity of priorities and approaches to addressing power, though most papers were largely based in a biomedical framework. Most programmes intervened at multiple levels simultaneously; some of these were 'structural' programmes that explicitly aimed to shift power relations, others addressed multiple levels using a more typical programme theory that sought to change individual behaviours and proximate drivers. This prevailing focus on proximate behaviours is somewhat mismatched with the broader literature on the power-related drivers of SRH health inequities, which explores the role of embedded norms and structures. CONCLUSION This paper adds value by summarising what the academic public health community has chosen to test and research in terms of power relations and SRH, and by raising questions about how this corresponds to the significant task of effecting change in power relations to improve the right to SRH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Schaaf
- Independent Consultant, Brooklyn, New York, USA
- Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Victoria Boydell
- School of Health and Social Care, University of Essex Faculty of Science and Health, Colchester, UK
| | - Stephanie M Topp
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Aditi Iyer
- Ramalingaswami Centre on Equity and Social Determinants of Health, Public Health Foundation of India, Bangalore, India
| | - Gita Sen
- Ramalingaswami Centre on Equity and Social Determinants of Health, Public Health Foundation of India, Bangalore, India
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Carels C, Florence M, Adams S, Sinclair DL, Savahl S. Youths' Perceptions Of The Relation Between Alcohol Consumption And Risky Sexual Behaviour in the Western Cape, South Africa: A Qualitative Study. CHILD INDICATORS RESEARCH 2022; 15:1269-1293. [PMID: 35079296 PMCID: PMC8773401 DOI: 10.1007/s12187-022-09913-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to explore the factors that youth identify as contributing to alcohol consumption, and more specifically its relation to risky sexual behaviour among youth. We employed an exploratory qualitative method using focus group discussions with 34 young people between the ages of 18-25-years-old in low socio-economic status communities in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Data were analyzed thematically utilizing Braun and Clarke's (2006) six-step thematic analysis process. We identified two thematic domains pertaining to alcohol consumption and risky sexual behaviour, namely individual and social factors, each comprising three themes. The individual factors thematic domain comprises intrapersonal influences, employment and educational attainment; while the social factors thematic domain includes interpersonal influences, social influences, and hope for the future. Youth living in low socio-economic status communities were thought to be at greater risk of alcohol misuse and subsequent risky behaviour, given the political and social history of marginalisation, systematic oppression, and social inequality. To address alcohol use and risky sexual behavior among youth, we recommend interventions with adolescents, parents or guardians, and the community. More specifically, interventions aimed at adolescents should focus on the transition to young adulthood. Interventions with parents should focus on their role in modelling and potentially regulating alcohol consumption. Finally, community interventions should centre on drinking behaviors, levels of drinking, what constitutes harmful drinking, and how to identify when treatment and recovery support is likely to be required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra Carels
- Department of Psychology, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Maria Florence
- Department of Psychology, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Sabirah Adams
- Centre for Higher Education Development, Language Development Group, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Deborah Louise Sinclair
- Department of Psychology, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Special Needs Education, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Shazly Savahl
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies of Children, Families and Society, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
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Ssekamatte T, Kibira SPS, Tetui M, Isunju JB, Mugambe RK, Wafula ST, Buregyeya E, Nalwadda CK, Bukenya JN, Wanyenze RK. Do sexual expectancies and inhibitions predict high-risk sexual behaviours? Evidence from a cross-sectional survey among young psychoactive substance users in informal settlements in Kampala, Uganda. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:1506. [PMID: 34348701 PMCID: PMC8336356 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11536-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psychoactive substance use is a public health challenge among young people in informal settlements. Though rarely examined, psychoactive substance use is linked to sexual expectancies and inhibitions, and consequently high-risk sexual behaviours. This study examined the association between sexual expectancies and inhibitions, and high-risk sexual behaviours among young psychoactive substance users (PSUs) in informal settlements in Kampala, Uganda. METHODS This cross-sectional study recruited 744 young PSUs from informal settlements in Kampala. Respondent driven sampling was used to recruit respondents. A 'modified' Poisson regression model was used for inferential statistics. Data were analysed using the Stata 14 software. RESULTS Of the 744 study participants, 45.6% believed that psychoactive substance use improves sexual performance; 43.3% believed that psychoactive substances make sex more pleasurable, and 53.3% believed that psychoactive substances give courage or confidence to approach a partner for sex. The belief that psychoactive substance use improves sexual performance (PR 1.14, 95% CI: 1.01-1.30), increases the likelihood of engaging in sex (PR 1.20, 95% CI: 1.04-1.40) or gives courage or confidence to approach a sexual partner (PR 1.21, 95% CI: 1.05-1.39) were associated with having sex while under the influence of psychoactive substances. The belief that a psychoactive substance user under the influence of psychoactive substances is more likely to engage in sex (PR 1.48, 95% CI: 1.15-1.90), and likely to find it difficult to refuse sex (PR 1.28, 95% CI: 1.06-1.55) were positively associated with engaging in multiple sexual partnerships. The belief that one easily forgets to use a condom when under the influence of psychoactive substances was positively associated with inconsistent condom use (PR 1.26, 95% CI: 1.09-1.45). CONCLUSION Psychoactive substance use expectancies associated with high-risk sexual behaviours included the belief that psychoactive substances improve sexual performance and improve confidence in approaching a sexual partner. Psychoactive substance use inhibitions associated with high-risk sexual behaviours included an increased likelihood of engaging in sexual intercourse, difficulties in refusing to engage in sexual intercourse, and forgetting to use condoms while intoxicated. Interventions targeting a reduction in high-risk sexual behaviour should integrate the impact of psychoactive substance use on sexual behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tonny Ssekamatte
- Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Simon P. S. Kibira
- Department of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Moses Tetui
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
- Departement of Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - John Bosco Isunju
- Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Richard K. Mugambe
- Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Solomon Tsebeni Wafula
- Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Esther Buregyeya
- Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Christine Kayemba Nalwadda
- Department of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Justine Nnakate Bukenya
- Department of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Rhoda K. Wanyenze
- Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
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Manyaapelo T, Ruiter RA, Sifunda S, Nyembezi A, van den Borne B, Reddy P. The psychosocial determinants of the intention to test for HIV among young men in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. AJAR-AFRICAN JOURNAL OF AIDS RESEARCH 2021; 20:42-52. [PMID: 33632066 DOI: 10.2989/16085906.2020.1861034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Background: Voluntary counselling and testing is one of the effective prevention strategies against the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This study investigated the psychosocial determinants of the intention to be tested for HIV among young men in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province using the theory of planned behaviour as the guiding framework.Method: A facilitator-administered questionnaire was used to collect data among 350 isiZulu-speaking men between the ages of 18 and 35.Results: Results show that 24% reported ever having tested. Intention to test showed strong positive correlations with subjective norm to test (r = 0.67), intention to use condoms (r = 0.65), intention to reduce alcohol use (r = 0.60), subjective norm to reduce alcohol use (r = 0.54), and subjective norm to use condoms (r = 0.51). For multiple regression, attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control explained 43% of the variance in intention to test, with subjective norm and perceived behavioural control making significant unique contributions. An additional 12% of the variance was explained by intention to reduce alcohol and drug use, and use condoms.Conclusion: Behavioural interventions to encourage HIV testing among men should target normative and control beliefs but also other risky behaviours (e.g. alcohol abuse and condom use) as reductions in these behaviours appear to be positively associated with motivation to undergo HIV testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thabang Manyaapelo
- Human and Social Capabilities Programme, Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Robert Ac Ruiter
- Department of Work & Social Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Sibusiso Sifunda
- Human and Social Capabilities Programme, Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Anam Nyembezi
- School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
| | - Bart van den Borne
- Department of Health Education and Health Promotion, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Priscilla Reddy
- Human and Social Capabilities Programme, Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa
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