scholarly journals Partner age differences and associated sexual risk behaviours among adolescent girls and young women in a cash transfer programme for schooling in Malawi

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Roxanne Beauclair ◽  
Jonathan Dushoff ◽  
Wim Delva
Sexual Health ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerris L. Raiford ◽  
Puja Seth ◽  
Amy M. Fasula ◽  
Ralph J. DiClemente

Background: HIV and other sexually transmissible infections (HIV/STIs) are significant contributors to adolescent girls’ morbidity in the US. Risks for HIV/STIs are increased among adolescent girls involved in the juvenile justice system, and African American adolescent girls comprise nearly 50% of adolescent girls in detention centres. Although HIV prevention programs focus on HIV/STI knowledge, increased knowledge may not be sufficient to reduce sexual risk. The present study examined the interactive effects of HIV/STI knowledge and the importance of being in a relationship (a relationship imperative) on sexual risk behaviours in a sample of detained African American adolescent girls. Methods: In all, 188 African American adolescent girls, 13–17 years of age, were recruited from a short-term detention facility in Atlanta, Georgia, and completed assessments on sexual risk behaviours, relationship characteristics, HIV/STI knowledge and several psychosocial risk factors. Results: When girls endorsed a relationship imperative, higher HIV/STI knowledge was associated with low partner communication self-efficacy, inconsistent condom use and unprotected sex, when controlling for demographics and self-esteem. Conclusions: Young girls with high HIV/STI knowledge may have placed themselves at risk for HIV/STIs given the importance and value they place on being in a relationship. Contextual factors should be considered when developing interventions.


BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. e024255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyrone J Curtis ◽  
Nigel Field ◽  
Soazig Clifton ◽  
Catherine H Mercer

ObjectivesEconomic and social changes over the last 20 years have led to changes in the living situations of young people in Britain. A person’s home-life context might influence their sexual behaviour, with implications for their sexual healthcare needs; we investigated this hypothesis.MethodsBritain’s third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles, a probability sample survey undertaken in 2010–2012, interviewed 15 162 men and women aged 16–74 years in Britain (with 3869 aged 16–24 years). We examined household structure by gender and age group. We then focused on sexually experienced young people (aged 16–24 years), and used multivariable models to explore associations between household structure, sexual risk behaviours and sexual health outcomes, independent of confounders including age, relationship status, employment and area of residence.ResultsYoung people were most likely to be living with parents (women 57.1% (95% CI 54.5% to 59.6%) and men 68.7% (95% CI 65.4% to 71.8%)) or non-relatives (women 10.5% (95% CI 8.5% to 12.9%) and men 12.6% (95% CI 10.1% to 15.6%)). Among the 81.3% of young people who were sexually experienced, compared with young women living with parents (reference category), young women living alone or with non-relatives had a higher likelihood of reporting ≥2 sexual partners (adjusted OR 1.54 (95% CI 1.03 to 2.31); 1.76 (95% CI 1.03 to 3.00), respectively). Women living alone were also more likely to have had unsafe sex (2.04 (95% CI 1.38 to 3.02)). Despite these differences in sexually transmitted infection (STI) risk, there was no difference in sexual healthcare-seeking behaviour. Young men and women living with partners reported lower levels of sexual risk behaviours.ConclusionsOur study suggests household structure may influence the sexual behaviour of young people in Britain. Given changes in their living arrangements, the role of household structure in sexual health research should be further investigated, and also considered as a possible marker for STI risk in clinical consultations.


10.2196/14696 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. e14696
Author(s):  
Mwita Wambura ◽  
Mary Drake ◽  
Evodius Kuringe ◽  
Esther Majani ◽  
Daniel Nyato ◽  
...  

Background The HIV epidemic in Eastern and Southern Africa is characterized by a high incidence and prevalence of HIV infection among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) aged 15-24 years. For instance, in some countries, HIV prevalence in AGYW aged 20-24 years exceeds that in AGYW aged 15-19 years by 2:1. Sauti (meaning voices), a project supported by the United States Agency for International Development, is providing HIV combination prevention interventions to AGYW in the Shinyanga region, Tanzania. Objective The aim of this study is to determine the impact of cash transfer on risky sexual behavior among AGYW receiving cash transfer and HIV combination prevention interventions. This paper describes the research methods and general protocol of the study. Risky sexual behavior will be assessed by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) incidence, compensated sex (defined as sexual encounters motivated by exchange for money, material support, or other benefits), and intergenerational sex (defined as a sexual partnership between AGYW and a man 10 or more years older). Through a qualitative study, the study seeks to understand how the intervention affects the structural and behavioral drivers of the HIV epidemic. Methods The trial employs audio computer-assisted self-interviewing, participatory group discussions (PGDs), and case studies to collect data. A total of 30 matched villages (15 intervention and 15 control clusters) were randomized to either receive cash transfer delivered over 18 months in addition to other HIV interventions (intervention arm) or to receive other HIV interventions without cash transfer (control arm). Study participants are interviewed at baseline and 6, 12, and 18 months to collect data on demographics, factors related to HIV vulnerabilities, family planning, sexual risk behavior, gender-based violence, and HSV-2 and HIV infections. A total of 6 PGDs (3 intervention, 3 control) were conducted at baseline to describe perceptions and preferences of different intervention packages, whereas 20 case studies are used to monitor and unearth the dynamics involved in delivery and uptake of cash transfer. Results The study was funded in June 2017; enrollment took place in December 2017. A total of two rounds of the follow-up survey are complete, and one round has yet to be conducted. The results are expected in December 2019 and will be disseminated through conferences and peer-reviewed publications. Conclusions This study will document the synergetic impact of cash transfer in the presence of HIV combination prevention interventions on risky sexual behavior among out-of-school AGYW. The results will strengthen the evidence of cash transfer in the reduction of risky sexual behavior and provide feasible HIV prevention strategies for AGYW. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03597243; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03597243. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/14696


2013 ◽  
Vol 89 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. iii45-iii48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Grazina Johnston ◽  
Kamal Alami ◽  
M Houssine El Rhilani ◽  
Mehdi Karkouri ◽  
Othoman Mellouk ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (11) ◽  
pp. 1066-1075
Author(s):  
Pradeep Kumar ◽  
Bhavna Sangal ◽  
Shreena Ramanathan ◽  
Savina Ammassari ◽  
Srinivasa Raghavan Venkatesh

In India, while an overall reduction in HIV is achieved among most key populations, the continued higher prevalence among people who inject drugs (PWIDs) is an area of concern. This paper analyses unsafe injecting and sexual risk behaviours in male PWIDs according to HIV status and also examines the determinants of HIV infection in this high-risk group. Data from India’s Integrated Biological and Behavioural Surveillance, conducted across 29 Indian states and Union Territories among 19,902 male PWIDs, were used. Informed consent was obtained and men aged 15 years or more, who used psychotropic substances or drugs in the past three months for non-medical reasons were recruited for the survey. Results from the multivariable analysis suggest that drug use debut at age 25 years or above (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.41, confidence interval [CI]: 1.05–1.88), engagement in drug use for a longer duration (AOR: 1.81, CI: 1.32–2.48), injecting three times or more per day (AOR: 1.53, CI: 1.1–2.12), sharing of needle/syringes (AOR: 1.34, CI: 1.02–1.76), self-reported sexually transmitted infections (AOR: 1.55, CI: 1.12–2.14) and higher self-risk perception for exposure to HIV (AOR: 2.08, CI: 1.58–2.75) increase the likelihood of HIV infection. Sustained higher prevalence, unsafe injecting and risky sexual practices are major challenges which may prevent India from reaching the ‘end of AIDS’ by 2030. This underscores the need for adoption of a tailored, evidence-driven HIV prevention approach that adequately addresses local needs to limit the spread of HIV within this population, and thereby prevents the onward transmission of HIV to the general population.


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