Frequency of sexual interactions and associated factors among long-distance truck drivers operating along the Northern Corridor Highway, Kenya

Abstract

Introduction harsh working conditions among long-distance truck drivers (LDTDs) expose them to risky sexual interactions while on transit. As a result, the risky sexual interactions among the LDTDs place them at a high risk of contracting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This study sought to assess the sexual interactions and associated factors among the LDTDs in Kenya. Methods two hundred ninety-six (296) LDTDs were interviewed using interviewer-administered questionnaires. A systematic sampling technique was adopted. The number of sexual acts reported by the respondents was used to generate an ordered outcome variable (frequency of sexual interactions), in the order of; no sexual acts (zero), one to three sexual acts (1), and four to six sexual acts (2). Association between the predictor variables and the outcome variable was analysed using ordered logistic regression analysis in R statistical software. Results the mean age of the study participants was 38.4 years, with the youngest being 24 years and the oldest 57 years. Slightly above half of the participants (52.4%) reported no sexual interactions, while the rest (47.6%) had sexual interactions with either casual or regular sexual partners on the week preceding the survey. Age, the number of weeks spent on a transit journey, and drug use were independently associated with the frequency of sexual interactions among LDTDs involved in the study. Conclusion the frequencies of sexual interactions are likely to be higher among the younger LDTDs, those who spent more than one week on transit, and those who use alcohol and khat, hence a high exposure risk to HIV/STIs among them.

The global burden of HIV among Long-distance truck drivers: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…The findings from this study demonstrate substantial evidence of high levels of HIV across LDTDs of diverse geographical backgrounds such as sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Pacific. While for a long time LDTDs were understood to be both most at-risk [5,6,9,13,15,17,19,80] and a hard-to-reach population [3,4,18,27], this is even the pioneer study to systematically determine and report the extent of the burden of HIV in this key population.…”

“…Studies have identified several factors likely to drive a high burden of HIV among LDTDs. These include; sexual risk behaviours like poor condom use [5][6][7][8], multiple sexual partners [9][10][11], illicit drug and alcohol use during or before sexual interactions [10,[12][13][14], and risky sexual networks [15][16][17][18]. Notably, LDTDs' stopovers along their transit routes are characterized by prevalent commercial sex from FSWs whose risk of HIV infection is also high [19].…”