Schedule:
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Pacific D-O (Hyatt Regency San Francisco)
* noted as presenting author
Lisa Wegner, PhD, Chairperson, Associate Professor, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
Joachim Jacobs, MS, Lecturer, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
Jacqueline A. Cox, MS, Doctoral Candidate, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Edward Allan Smith, PhD, Interim Director, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Linda Lee Caldwell, PhD, Professor, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
John W. Graham, PhD, Professor, Penn State University, University Park, PA
Linda M. Collins, PhD, Director of Methodology Center, Penn State University, State College, PA
Tania Vergnani, PhD, Director, Professor, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
Catherine Mathews, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
Methamphetamine (MA) use in Cape Town is steadily increasing. In 2009, nearly half of patients at Cape Town’s specialist substance abuse treatment centres received treatment for MA use, with 57% of MA patients aged 15-24 years. Only three previous studies examined the association between MA use and sexual risk behavior among youth in Cape Town. These studies indicate that MA use is associated with increased early vaginal sex, but provide inconsistent findings for other sexual behaviour. Considering that one in five sexually active adolescents had been pregnant or made someone pregnant, and 17% of women attending public antenatal clinics in 2009 were HIV positive, it is important to understand the link between MA use and sexual risk behaviour.
Data for this study were collected via self-report from 10,237 eighth grade youth in Cape Town. Analyses are limited to youth who reported lifetime MA use (n = 526) in order to assess risk associated with recent MA use. A dummy variable was created to indicate any past month MA use compared to no past month MA use. Risky sexual behaviour is assessed through linear and logistic regression (as appropriate), controlling for gender. We hypothesized that youth reporting past month MA use would be more likely to report risky sexual behaviour and ever being (or getting someone) pregnant than youth who had not used MA in the past month.
Results suggests that past month MA use is associated with a greater likelihood of reporting being forced to have sex, and ever being (or getting someone) pregnant. There was no significant difference between past month MA users and lifetime users in reports of ever having consensual sex, or their frequency of sex in the past month or the number of past month sex. Youth’s most recent sex is particularly risky for youth reporting past month MA users. These youth more likely to report that the last time they had sex they used alcohol or marijuana, had a partner whom they knew but were not in a relationships with, and that they did not use a condom because of substance use.
Findings suggest that youth who report recent MA are more likely to report risky sexual behaviour the last time they had sex. Furthermore, youth using MA may be at an increased risk for experiencing sexual coercion. These findings have implications for programs aimed at preventing risky sexual behavior and sexual victimization.
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