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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2011

Open Access 01-12-2011 | Research article

Poor mental health and sexual risk behaviours in Uganda: A cross-sectional population-based study

Authors: Patric Lundberg, Godfrey Rukundo, Schola Ashaba, Anna Thorson, Peter Allebeck, Per-Olof Östergren, Elizabeth Cantor-Graae

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2011

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Abstract

Background

Poor mental health predicts sexual risk behaviours in high-income countries, but little is known about this association in low-income settings in sub-Saharan Africa where HIV is prevalent. This study investigated whether depression, psychological distress and alcohol use are associated with sexual risk behaviours in young Ugandan adults.

Method

Household sampling was performed in two Ugandan districts, with 646 men and women aged 18-30 years recruited. Hopkins Symptoms Checklist-25 was used to assess the presence of depression and psychological distress. Alcohol use was assessed using a question about self-reported heavy-episodic drinking. Information on sexual risk behaviour was obtained concerning number of lifetime sexual partners, ongoing concurrent sexual relationships and condom use.

Results

Depression was associated with a greater number of lifetime partners and with having concurrent partners among women. Psychological distress was associated with a greater number of lifetime partners in both men and women and was marginally associated (p = 0.05) with having concurrent partners among women. Psychological distress was associated with inconsistent condom use among men. Alcohol use was associated with a greater number of lifetime partners and with having concurrent partners in both men and women, with particularly strong associations for both outcome measures found among women.

Conclusion

Poor mental health is associated with sexual risk behaviours in a low-income sub-Saharan African setting. HIV preventive interventions should consider including mental health and alcohol use reduction components into their intervention packages, in settings where depression, psychological distress and alcohol use are common.
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Metadata
Title
Poor mental health and sexual risk behaviours in Uganda: A cross-sectional population-based study
Authors
Patric Lundberg
Godfrey Rukundo
Schola Ashaba
Anna Thorson
Peter Allebeck
Per-Olof Östergren
Elizabeth Cantor-Graae
Publication date
01-12-2011
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2011
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-11-125

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