S Nighty, K Elizabeth, A Daniel
Purpose: Scaling up of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy in Uganda has improved survival of a cohort of children into adolescence. Adolescence is a turbulent period where experimental sexual behavior may occur. Adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) with risky sexual behaviour are key players in transmitting HIV. We aimed at establishing the prevalence and factors associated with risky sexual behaviour among ALHIV in Mbarara, Uganda.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of adolescents (10-19 years) living with HIV, and attending HIV clinics in Mbarara between March and May 2017. We collected sociology-demographic, behavioral and health service-related data. Risky sexual behaviour was defined as involvement in sexual activity too early, non-condom use, having one or more sexual partners, sex under influence of alcohol or drugs in the past 12 months. Logistic regression models were fitted for factors associated with risky sexual behaviour, using STATA 13∙0 software.
Results: We interviewed 346 adolescents, 66% aged 10-14 years, 61% female, 71% living in a rural or semi-urban area, 53% double or single orphan. Overall, ∼10% of ALHIV engaged in risky sexual behavior with higher prevalence in females (15.1%), age category 18-19 years (50%) and among ART naïve (33.3%) (p <0.01). Being an older adolescent (>=15 years) (OR=14.0, 95% C I: 4.55-43.02), being female (OR=4.1, 95% CI:1.12-14.98), staying in households with <5 members (OR=3.0, 95% CI: 1.13-7.31) and ALHIV receiving family planning information from clinic in last 12 months (OR=3.4, 95% CI: 1.42-7.94) were independently associated with risky sexual behaviour.
Conclusions: A considerable proportion of ALHIV in Mbarara engage in risky sexual behaviors and could enhance HIV transmission. The greatest risk of risky sexual behaviour at the transition to adulthood and in females. HIV awareness and Sexual Reproductive Health interventions targeting adolescent girls in the late adolescence needs to be prioritized.
Funding source: Fogarty International Center (National Institutes of Health [NIH] Common Fund, Office of Strategic Coordination, Office of the Director [OD/OSC/CF/NIH]; Office of AIDS Research, Office of the Director (OAR/NIH); National Article metrics Related Articles
Contacts: Dr Kemigisha Elizabeth and Dr Atwine Daniel
Start date: March 2017
Article Link: https://www.jahonline.org/