Evaluating DREAMS HIV prevention interventions targeting adolescent girls and young women in high HIV prevalence districts in South Africa: protocol for a cross-sectional study

ObjectiveThis study examines the role of age-disparate partnerships on young women’s HIV risk by investigating coital frequency and condom use within age-disparate partnerships involving women aged 15 to 24.DesignA community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted.SettingParticipants were randomly selected using a two-stage random sampling method in uMgungundlovu district, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, between June 2014 and June 2015.ParticipantsA total of 1306 15–24-year-old women in an ongoing heterosexual partnership were included in the analysis. Participants had to be a resident in the area for 12 months, and able to provide informed consent and speak one of the local languages (Zulu or English).Primary and secondary outcome measuresSexual frequency was assessed by asking participants how many times they had sex with each partner in the past 12 months. The degree of condomless sex within partnerships was assessed in the survey by asking participants how often they used a condom with their partners.ResultsAge-disparate partnerships were associated with a higher order category (once, 2–5, 6–10, 11–20, >20) of coital frequency (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.32, p<0.05, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.71) and with sex on more than 10 occasions (aOR 1.48, p<0.01, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.96) compared with age-similar partnerships. Age-disparate partnerships were also more likely to involve sex on more than 10 occasions with inconsistent condom use (aOR 1.43, p<0.05, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.96) in the previous 12 months.ConclusionThe finding that increased sexual activity is positively associated with age-disparate partnerships adds to the evidence that age-disparate partnerships pose greater HIV risk for young women. Our study results indicate that interventions to reduce risky sexual behaviour within age-disparate partnerships remain relevant to reducing the high HIV incidence rates among adolescent girls and young women.

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Patient and provider delay in tuberculosis suspects from communities with a high HIV prevalence in South Africa: A cross-sectional study

BMC Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1186/1471-2334-8-72 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

Graeme Meintjes ◽

Hennie Schoeman ◽

Chelsea Morroni ◽

Douglas Wilson ◽

Gary Maartens

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Hiv Prevalence ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional

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Urban-rural disparity in sociodemographic characteristics and sexual behaviors of HIV-positive adolescent girls and young women and their perspectives on their male sexual partners: A cross-sectional study in Zimbabwe

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0230823 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. e0230823 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ibou Thior ◽

Elizabeth Rowley ◽

Webster Mavhu ◽

Natalie Kruse-Levy ◽

Lyn Messner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Adolescent Girls ◽

Young Women ◽

Sexual Behaviors ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Sociodemographic Characteristics ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Urban Rural ◽

Male Sexual Partners

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Prevalence and correlates of sexual violence among adolescent girls and young women: findings from a cross-sectional study in a South African university

10.21203/rs.3.rs-131818/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Anthony Idowu Ajayi ◽

Elmon Mudefi ◽

Eyitayo Omolara Owolabi

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Sexual Violence ◽

Family Support ◽

Adolescent Girls ◽

Young Women ◽

Financial Support ◽

Epidemiological Data ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Factors Associated

Abstract Background: There is a window of opportunity to address the menace of sexual violence in South Africa, given the formation of the ministerial task team commissioned by the president in 2019 following the brutal rape and murder of a female university student in Cape Town. Epidemiological data on the prevalence and factors associated with sexual violence is critical to understanding the magnitude of the problem and designing interventions towards reversing the trend of sexual violence in the country. Drawing from cross-sectional data from a South Africa university, we examined the prevalence and correlates of sexual violence among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). Methods: We analysed data of 451 AGYW selected using stratified sampling. Sexual violence was defined as any sexual acts, and attempt to obtain a sexual act without consent. We used adjusted and unadjusted logistic regression models to examine the factors associated with exposure to sexual violence while controlling for relevant covariates. Results: The lifetime and past year prevalence of sexual violence was 37.9% and 25.3%, respectively. A higher prevalence of sexual violence was reported by heavy episodic drinkers of alcohol (lifetime 48.4% and past year 34.0%), those who received insufficient financial support (lifetime 58.0% and past year 35.8%) compared to non-users of alcohol and those who received adequate financial support. AGYW who reported heavy episodic use of alcohol were twice more likely to report experiencing sexual violence compared to non-users. However, individuals who received adequate family support were 76% and 65% less likely to report lifetime and past year experience of sexual violence compared to those who received inadequate family support. Also, AGYW who rated themselves as very religious were 80% and 75% less likely to report lifetime and past year experience of sexual violence compared to those who were not religious.Conclusion: Our study shows that sexual violence affects a large proportion of girls, requiring intervention that not only focuses on increasing social support for survivors, facilitating reporting, and ensuring justice is served, but also target alcohol use reduction and poverty alleviation.

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