AEGiS-15IAC: Use of substances and risk of HIV infection - a cross sectional study amongst urban and rural high school students in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa (SA).

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Use of substances and risk of HIV infection - a cross sectional study amongst urban and rural high school students in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa (SA).

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. TuOrA1219)

Taylor M, Dlamini SB, Nyawo N, Jinabhai CC, Morar N, Esterhuizen T, Friedland G
University, Durban, South Africa

Introduction: Use of disinhibiting substances may influence risky sexual behaviour in the SA HIV/AIDS epidemic. This study investigated the relationship between the use of alcohol,dagga (cannabis), cocaine, solvent inhalants, injecting drug use, and sexual behaviour placing students at risk of HIV/AIDS.

METHOD: A cross sectional study investigated Grade 8-12 high school students' use of substances and risky sexual behaviour for HIV/AIDS in 20 randomly selected urban/rural schools in KZN, using an anonymous self-reported questionnaire.

RESULTS: Of the 1632 students, mean age 18.51y (SD 12.63), 44.3% male, 55.7% female, 84.2% were Zulu-speaking, 13.7% spoke English, and 39% lived with both parents. Substances ever used by students included alcohol (49.7%), cigarettes (32.5%), cannabis (17.7%), cocaine (2.5%), benzine (24.3%), and injecting drugs (2.0%). Students (38.7%) were sexually experienced, 23.7% of whom reported sexual intercourse in the previous three months, and 57.4% of these students always used condoms. When having sex 19.7% students regularly smoked cigarettes, and regular use of alcohol, cannabis, cocaine and benzine was reported respectively by 16.2%, 11.1%, 4.4%, and 4.3% students. Of sexually experienced students, 25.9% reported having different kinds of sex when drinking alcohol (10.2% reported anal sex), and and when using dagga 10.8% reported different kinds of sex with 5.4% engaging in anal sex. Condom use "always" or "mostly" was reported by 37.9% students. Males were significantly more likely to use substances (P<0.005), have had sex in the past three months (P<0.005), and sex with multiple partners (P<0.005) than females. Older students reported significantly more sexual intercourse and use of substances (P<0.005). Conclusion KZN high school students have high rates of abusing substances and having unprotected sex placing themselves at risk of HIV infection. Interventions targeting high school students with information and motivating them to reduce both substance use and sexual risk behaviours.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV Infections, Cross-Sectional Studies, Sexual Behavior, Unsafe Sex, Students, Risk-Taking, Condoms, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Coitus, Rural Population, Alcohol Drinking, Substance-Related Disorders, Smoking, HIV Seropositivity, South Africa, Humans, Female, Male, utilization

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TuOrA1219