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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
The distribution of sex acts and condom use within partnerships in a rural sub-Saharan African population
PLoS ONE, Volume 9, No. 2, Article e88378, Year 2014
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Description
Introduction: In an HIV/AIDS epidemic driven primarily by heterosexual transmission, it is important to have an understanding of the human sexual behaviour patterns that influence transmission. We analysed the distribution and predictors of within-partnership sexual behaviour and condom use in rural Zimbabwe and generated parameters for use in future modelling analyses. Methods: A population-based cohort was recruited from a household census in 12 communities. A baseline survey was carried out in 1998-2000 with follow-up surveys after 3 and 5 years. Statistical distributions were fitted to reported withinpartnership numbers of total, unprotected and protected sex acts in the past two weeks. Multilevel linear and logistic regression models were constructed to assess predictors of the frequency of unprotected sex and consistent condom use. Results: A normal distribution of ln(sex acts+1) provided the best fit for total and unprotected sex acts for men and women. A negative binomial distribution applied to the untransformed data provided the best fit for protected sex acts. Condom use within partnerships was predominantly bimodal with at least 88% reporting zero or 100% use. Both men and women reported fewer unprotected sex acts with non-regular compared to regular partners (men: 0.26 fewer every two weeks (95% confidence interval 0.18-0.34); women: 0.16 (0.07-0.23)). Never and previously married individuals reported fewer unprotected sex acts than currently married individuals (never married men: 0.64 (0.60-0.67); previously married men: 0.59 (0.50-0.67); never married women: 0.51 (0.45-0.57); previously married women: 0.42 (0.37-0.47)). These variables were also associated with more consistent condom use. Discussion: We generated parameters that will be useful for defining transmission models of HIV and other STIs, which rely on a valid representation of the underlying sexual network that determines spread of an infection. This will enable a better understanding of the spread of HIV and other STDs in this rural sub-Saharan population. © 2014 Smith et al.
Available Materials
https://efashare.b-cdn.net/share/pmc/articles/PMC3928170/bin/pone.0088378.s001.docx
Authors & Co-Authors
Smith, Jennifer A.
Unknown Affiliation
Nyamukapa, Constance Anesu
Unknown Affiliation
Gregson, Simon A.J.
Unknown Affiliation
Lewis, James J.C.
Unknown Affiliation
Magutshwa, Sitholubuhle
Unknown Affiliation
Schumacher, Christina M.
Unknown Affiliation
Mushati, Phyllis
Unknown Affiliation
Hallett, Timothy B.
Unknown Affiliation
Garnett, Geoff Peter
Unknown Affiliation
Statistics
Citations: 22
Authors: 9
Affiliations: 7
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1371/journal.pone.0088378
e-ISSN:
19326203
Research Areas
Infectious Diseases
Sexual And Reproductive Health
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Cohort Study
Study Approach
Quantitative
Study Locations
Zimbabwe
Participants Gender
Male
Female