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Associations with Unprotected Sexual Behavior Among HIV-Infected Drinkers in Western Kenya

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Abstract

Approximately 71% of HIV-infected individuals live in sub-Saharan Africa. Alcohol use increases unprotected sex, which can lead to HIV transmission. Little research examines risky sex among HIV-infected individuals in East Africa who are not sex workers. The study purpose was to examine associations with unprotected sex in a high-risk sample of 507 HIV-infected sexually active drinkers in western Kenya. They were enrolled in a trial to reduce alcohol use. Past-month baseline alcohol use and sexual behavior were assessed using the Timeline Followback. A zero-inflated negative binomial model examined associations with occurrence and frequency of unprotected sex. Results showed heavy drinking days were significantly associated with unprotected sex occurrence across gender, and with unprotected sex frequency among women. Among women, transactional sex, alcohol-related sexual expectations, condom use self-efficacy, drinking-and-protected-sex days and age were associated with unprotected sex occurrence while alcohol-related sexual expectations, depressive symptoms and condom use self-efficacy were associated with unprotected sex frequency. Among men, alcohol-related sexual expectations, condom use self-efficacy, and age were associated with unprotected sex occurrence, while drinking-and-protected-sex days were associated with unprotected sex occurrence and frequency. Findings suggest robust relationships between heavy drinking and unprotected sex. Further research is needed elucidating the temporal relationships between drinking and unprotected sex in this population.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by Grant R01AA020805 from the U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). It was also supported in part by a grant to the USAID-AMPATH Partnership from the United States Agency for International Development as part of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Preparation of this manuscript was supported in part by NIAAA Grant 2K05 16928. We extend our appreciation to Chematics, Inc. of North Webster, Indiana for the generous donation of alcohol saliva tests for this project. We thank the participants for their role in this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA

    Rebecca K. Papas

  2. School of Medicine, Moi University College of Health Sciences, Eldoret, Kenya

    Benson N. Gakinya & Joyce B. Baliddawa

  3. Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH), Eldoret, Kenya

    Michael M. Mwaniki & Alfred K. Keter

  4. Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA

    Xiaotian K. Wu, Hana Lee & Michelle P. Loxley

  5. Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    Steve Martino

  6. Right Response LLC, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Debra A. Klein

  7. Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    John E. Sidle

  8. Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA

    Stephen A. Maisto

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  1. Rebecca K. Papas
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Correspondence to Rebecca K. Papas.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Papas, R.K., Gakinya, B.N., Mwaniki, M.M. et al. Associations with Unprotected Sexual Behavior Among HIV-Infected Drinkers in Western Kenya. AIDS Behav 22, 2840–2850 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-018-2150-1

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