title: HIV and alcohol knowledge, self-perceived risk for HIV, and risky sexual behavior among young HIV-negative men identified as harmful or hazardous drinkers in Katutura, Namibia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Namibia's HIV prevalence is 13.3%. Alcohol is associated with sexual risk-taking, leading to increased HIV risk. Baseline sexual behaviors, HIV and alcohol knowledge, and self-perceived HIV risk were examined among men reporting high-risk drinking in Katutura, Namibia.
  
  
  METHODS
  HIV negative men, ≥ 18 years, were screened for harmful or hazardous levels of drinking and >1 recent sex partner prior to randomization into control or intervention arm. SAS 9.3 and R 3.01 were used for descriptive baseline cohort analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 501 participants who met criteria were included in analysis (mean Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test [AUDIT] =12.4). HIV and alcohol knowledge were high with the majority (>85 and 89.8-98%, respectively) of respondents correctly answering assessment questions. Despite high knowledge levels, 66.7% of men felt they were at some or high risk of HIV acquisition. Among those respondents, 56.5% stated often wanting to have sex after drinking and 40.3% stated sex was better when drunk. Among respondents with non-steady partners [n = 188], 44.1% of last sexual encounters occurred while the participant was drunk and condoms were not used 32.5% of those times. Among persons who were not drunk condoms were not used 13.3% of those times.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sex with casual partners was high. Inconsistent condom use and alcohol use before sex were frequently reported. Increased emphasis on alcohol risk-reduction strategies, including drinking due to peer pressure and unsafe sexual behaviors, is needed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Global HIV/AIDS, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop E-30, Atlanta, GA, 30329-1902, USA. efn6@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Amee
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schwitters
authors.affiliation: Division of Global HIV/AIDS, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop E-30, Atlanta, GA, 30329-1902, USA. fvv9@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sabatier
authors.affiliation: Division of Global HIV/AIDS, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop E-30, Atlanta, GA, 30329-1902, USA. idj5@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Puja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Seth
authors.affiliation: Division of Global HIV/AIDS, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop E-30, Atlanta, GA, 30329-1902, USA. fev5@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Glenshaw
authors.affiliation: Division of Global HIV/AIDS, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Windhoek, Namibia. d_remmert@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Dietrich
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Remmert
authors.affiliation: ICF International, Atlanta, GA, USA. bku4@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Sonal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pathak
authors.affiliation: Division of Global HIV/AIDS, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop E-30, Atlanta, GA, 30329-1902, USA. neb2@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bock
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009276:Namibia; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012649:Self Concept; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult