Mental health, childhood abuse and HIV sexual risk behaviour among university students in Ivory Coast

Abstract

BackgroundLittle focus has been paid to the role of poor mental health and childhood abuse among young people with regard to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk behaviour and HIV prevention in Africa. The aim of this study was to determine the association between mental health, childhood abuse and HIV sexual risk behaviour among a sample of university students in Ivory Coast.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted with undergraduate students that were recruited randomly from classes at the Félix Houphouët Boigny University of Cocody. The sample included 824 university students (50% men and 50% women), with a mean age of 23.7 years (SD = 2.7).ResultsOf the 824 university students who completed the survey, 17.6% reported depression, 10.8% screened positive for post-traumatic stress disorder, 8.3% reported at least monthly heavy episodic drinking, 13.5% reported childhood physical abuse and 4.7% sexual abuse, 33.9% had two or more sexual partners in the past 12 months, 66.3% had inconsistent condom use, 23.6% had alcohol use in the context of sex and 16.7% had a history of a sexually transmitted infection In multivariable analysis among men, lack of religiousness and alcohol use in the context of sex were associated with HIV risk behaviour, and among women, poorer family background, experience of sexual and physical partner violence, alcohol use in the context of sex and depression were associated with HIV risk behaviour.ConclusionsPoor mental health (depression) including alcohol use and partner violence was found to be associated with HIV risk behaviour. Coordinated mental health and sexual and reproductive health services to meet the needs of university students would be desirable.

HIV risk after release from prison: a pilot case-control study in Canada, France, Ivory Coast and South Africa

“…High HIV risk behaviour has also been found in a study among university students in the Ivory Coast (Peltzer, Pengpid, & Tiembre, 2013). Further, in bivariate analysis it was found to be in agreement with other studies (e.g., MacGowan et al, 2003) that alcohol use was associated with HIV risk behaviour.…”

Mental health correlates of HIV risk behaviour and STIs/HIV infection among university students from 22 low, middle and high income countries

“…As reviewed by Peltzer, Pengpid and Tiembre (2013, p.1), "there may be a relationship between poor mental health, including substance use and child abuse and HIV risk behaviour such as multiple sexual partners and unprotected sex" in the general population, and among university students poor mental health, substance use, childhood physical and sexual abuse were also found to be associated with HIV risk behaviour (Peltzer et al, 2013). In a systematic review by Spies, Afi fi , Archibald, Fennema-Notestine, Sareen and Seedat (2012, p. 1) "the most commonly reported psychiatric disorders among HIV-positive individuals with a history of childhood maltreatment included: substance abuse, major depressive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder."…”

Associação entre estados afetivos negativos e comportamentos sexuais de risco

“…Por exemplo, num estudo de Seth e col. (2011) com mulheres, os sintomas de depressão foram preditores da não utilização do preservativo, da existência de múltiplos parceiros sexuais e da utilização de álcool e drogas durante as relações sexuais. Do mesmo modo, Peltzer et al (2013), num estudo realizado com mulheres, verificaram que para além do baixo estatuto sócio económico, da história de vitimização e do consumo de álcool, a depressão também estava associada com os comportamentos sexuais de risco. De acordo com a literatura (Bancroft, 2009), a atividade sexual na depressão pode servir o propósito de obtenção de auto-validação, intimidade e de melhoria do humor.…”

“…A investigação sobre a associação destes problemas e os comportamentos sexuais de risco é escassa nos cuidados de saúde primários (Costa et al, 2017). Alguns estudos realizados com outras populações indicam uma associação entre problemas ao nível da saúde mental ou estados afetivos negativos e comportamentos sexuais de risco (Peltzer, Pengpid, & Tiembre, 2013).…”