AEGiS-14IAC: Trends in AIDS prevention behaviour in Uganda during the nineties.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Trends in AIDS prevention behaviour in Uganda during the nineties.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. TuOrC1227)

Bessinger RE, Kasheeka EB, Boerma JT, Zaba B, Kirungi WL
ORC Macro International, Calverton, United States

BACKGROUND: Uganda has seen consistent declines in HIV prevalence at sentinel surveillance sites since the mid-1990s and subnational studies have indicated that changes in sexual behavior may have occurred. Three national surveys provide additional data on trends in sexual behavior during the nineties.

METHODS: Nationally representative demographic and health surveys of 4000-7000 women 15-49 years and ~ 2000 men 15-54 years were conducted in 1989 (women only), 1995 and 2000. Indicators of sexual behavior are compared using tests of independence for complex survey data. Changes in median age at first sex are obtained using life table methods.

RESULTS: Between 1989 and 2000, median age at first sex increased by 1.2 years for girls and 1.7 years for boys. Among women, abstinence in non-virgins increased from 8% in 1989 to 15% in 1995 (p<.001), then declined to 13% in 2000. The percent of never-married women reporting premarital sex dropped from 36% in 1989 to 22% in 1995 (p<.001), but increased to 27% in 2000 (p<.05). From 1995 to 2000, there was a decline in the percent of single women reporting two or more sexual partners (11% to 6%, p<.01) and no change in married women reporting extramarital sex (3% both years). Among men, there were non-significant changes in the percent reporting abstinence (14% and 12%), premarital sex (33% and 31%), multiple sexual partners (29% and 31%), extramarital sex (14% and 12%). Women's ever use of condoms increased from 1% in 1989 to 6% in 1995 to 16% in 2000 (p<.001). Condom use at last sex with a non-regular partner increased from 20% of women in 1995 to 39% in 2000 (p<.001). For men, these figures were 35% and 59% respectively (p<.001).

CONCLUSION: A delay in age at first sex was seen in the early and late nineties and condom use has increased throughout the decade. While there have been some changes in abstinence and multiple partnerships for women, there is little evidence for large changes in sexual partnerships among men.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Sex Behavior, Condoms, Sexual Partners, HIV Infections, Coitus, HIV, Uganda, HIV Seroprevalence, Prevalence, Health Surveys, Human, Female, Male, prevention & control

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