Alcohol use, sexual relationship power, and unprotected sex among patrons in bars and taverns in rural areas of North West province, South Africa.
We examined the relative importance of alcohol consumption and sexual relationship power (SRP) in predicting unprotected sex among 406 bar patrons in North West province, South Africa. We assessed participants' demographic characteristics, alcohol consumption, SRP, and number of unprotected sexual episodes in the past 6 months. In correlational analyses, alcohol consumption was significantly associated with frequency of unprotected sex for both males and females. SRP was significantly associated with frequency of unprotected sex for males and marginally associated for females. In multivariate regression analyses, alcohol consumption was significantly associated with frequency of unprotected sex for both males and females. SRP's association was marginally significant for females and not significant for males. Alcohol consumption is more strongly associated with unprotected sex than is SRP among bar patrons. Combination HIV prevention approaches to curb problem drinking and increase condom accessibility, and regular and effective use are needed in tavern settings. SRP needs further examination among tavern populations.
Alcohol & Drug Abuse Research Unit, Medical Research Council, Private Bag X385, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa, sebenzile.nkosi@mrc.ac.za.
Sebenzile
S
Nkosi
Eileen P
EP
Rich
Neo K
NK
Morojele
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D011209:Power, Psychological; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult