Assessment of Alcohol Use and Risky Sexual Behaviors among Local Drink Sellers in Addis Ketema Sub-City, Addis Ababa
Creators: name: Kedir, Ibrahim
Publisher: name: National Academic Digital Repository of Ethiopia
Year: 2011

description: AIDS continues to be a major global health priority. The number of people living with HIV is still growing worldwide reaching an estimated 33.3 million in 2009. Slightly more than half are women. Patterns of alcohol consumption prevail in countries with the most severe HIV epidemics. Hazardous alcohol use is often assumed mainly to affect men, but women are harmed in large numbers by alcohol use: either their own or that of their partner. Women are at risk of alcohol-related sexual risk behavior in several ways. Women who sell alcohol are at increased risk of drinking alcohol themselves, engaging in unprotected sex with their clients, and HIV infection. Objective The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of alcohol use and its association with risky sexual behaviors among local drink sellers in Addis Ketema sub-city, Addis Ababa. Method A cross sectional study was conducted among 698 women engaged in selling local alcohol drinks in Addis Ketema sub-city Addis Ababa. The sample size was calculated using single population proportion formula and multistage cluster sampling technique was used. The data were collected through standardized questionnaire by trained data collectors. Respondents were assessed by socio demographic variables, type, amount and frequency of alcohol use and also risky sexual behaviors and bivariate and multivariate analysis were used to assess the association between these variables. Logistic regression was used to control confounding variables. Results The prevalence of alcohol use among local drink sellers was found to be 33.3%. About 72(41%) of the respondents drink alcohol on a daily basis, while 46(26.4%) drink alcohol twice a week and 56(32.2%) drink alcohol once a week or less and the type of alcoholic drink that majority 133(59.1%) of the study participants used was "Tela". Five hundred sixty six (82.4%) of the respondents had initiated sexual intercourse, out of which 85(15%) had sex with non regular partner and 29.7% didn"t use condom the last time they had sex with non regular partner. About 71(13.0%) of respondents reported that they had received gift or money in exchange for sex. Alcohol drinking was found to be associated with monthly personal income of 100 birr or more and being divorced. Having 3 or more drinks at one time was associated with having had sex with non regular partner and also with receiving gift or money in exchange for sex. Drinking alcohol daily and twice a week was also associated with receiving gift or money in exchange for sex. Considering types of alcoholic drink, drinking beer was found to be positively associated with having had sex with non regular partner. Condom use at last sex was higher among those who ever drink alcohol, had primary and above level of education and those who were never married. Conclusions HIV prevention programs for local drink sellers should recognize that alcohol use may be an important indicator of risk for HIV infection and AIDS through its association with risky sexual behaviors.