Use of AUDIT, and measures of drinking frequency and patterns to detect associations between alcohol and sexual behaviour in male sex workers in Kenya
Authors & affiliation
Stanley Lüchters, Scott Geibel, Masila Syengo, Daniel Lango, Nzioki King'ola, Marleen Temmerman, Matthew Chersich
Abstract
Background: Previous research has linked alcohol use with an increased number of sexual partners, inconsistent condom use and a raised incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, alcohol measures have been poorly standardised, with many ill-suited to eliciting, with adequate precision, the relationship between alcohol use and sexual risk behaviour. This study investigates which alcohol indicator - single-item measures of frequency and patterns of drinking (> = 6 drinks on 1 occasion), or the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) - can detect associations between alcohol use and unsafe sexual behaviour among male sex workers. Methods: A cross-sectional survey in 2008 recruited male sex workers who sell sex to men from 65 venues in Mombasa district, Kenya, similar to a 2006 survey. Information was collected on socio-demographics, substance use, sexual behaviour, violence and STI symptoms. Multivariate models examined associations between the three measures of alcohol use and condom use, sexual violence, and penile or anal discharge. Results: The 442 participants reported a median 2 clients/week (IQR = 1-3), with half using condoms consistently in the last 30 days. Of the approximately 70% of men who drink alcohol, half (50.5%) drink two or more times a week. Binge drinking was common (38.9%). As defined by AUDIT, 35% of participants who drink had hazardous drinking, 15% harmful drinking and 21% alcohol dependence. Compared with abstinence, alcohol dependence was associated with inconsistent condom use (AOR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.3-4.6), penile or anal discharge (AOR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.0-3.8), and two-fold higher odds of sexual violence (AOR = 2.0, 95% CI = 0.9-4.9). Frequent drinking was associated with inconsistent condom use (AOR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.1-3.0) and partner number, while binge drinking was only linked with inconsistent condom use (AOR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.0-2.5). Conclusions: Male sex workers have high levels of hazardous and harmful drinking, and require alcohol-reduction interventions. Compared with indicators of drinking frequency or pattern, the AUDIT measure has stronger associations with inconsistent condom use, STI symptoms and sexual violence. Increased use of the AUDIT tool in future studies may assist in delineating with greater precision the explanatory mechanisms which link alcohol use, drinking contexts, sexual behaviours and HIV transmission.
Publication date:
2011
Staff members:
Stanley Luchters
Marleen Temmerman
Link to publication
Attachments
Use_of_audit.pdf (open)Related publications
Stanley Lüchters, Davy Vanden Broeck, Matthew Chersich, Annalene Nel, Wim Delva, Kishor Mandaliya, Christophe Depuydt, Patricia Claeys, John-Paul Bogers, Marleen Temmerman
2019 Type-specific human papillomavirus prevalence, incident cases, persistence, and associated pregnancy outcomes among HIV-infected women in KenyaJoseph Vyankandondera, Sammy Wambua, Eunice Irungu, Kishorchandra Mandaliya, Marleen Temmerman, Claire Ryan, Yasmin Mohamed, Davy Vanden Broeck, Rita Verhelst, Matthew Chersich, Stanley Lüchters
2022 Increased condom use among key populations using oral PrEP in Kenya : results from large scale programmatic surveillanceGriffins Manguro, Abednego M. Musau, Daniel K. Were, Soud Tengah, Brian Wakhutu, Jason Reed, Marya Plotkin, Stanley Lüchters, Peter Gichangi, Marleen Temmerman