Risky Sexual Behavior across Extremes of Wealth in sub-Saharan Africa: A Meta-Analysis of Demographic and Health Surveys.
Background
Risky sexual behavior increases the risk of contracting sexually transmitted disease including HIV and other reproductive health problems. There have been varying assumptions and different reported result explaining the relationship between risky sexual behavior and wealth. This review was intended to examine the disparity of risky sexual behavior among the two extremes of wealth in sub-Saharan African countries.


Method
This study reviewed demographic and health survey reports of sub-Saharan African countries. We excluded older reports and reports published in languages other than English. Finally, reports from 16 countries were considered for review. Data were entered in excel and transported to stata for analysis. Metaprop and Metan command were used to compute proportions and odds ratio. Standard chi-square and I square tests were used to assess heterogeneity.


Result
Pooled prevalence of having multiple sexual partner ranges from 2 to 12%. Over 80% of the countries reported that more than half of the individuals did not use condom at their last risky sexual intercourse. Poorest females were 0.62 [OR: 0.62, 95% CI (0.50, 0.78)] times less likely to have multiple sexual partners than males. Both males and females from the poorest wealth quantile had higher odds of not using condom at their last risky sexual intercourse, 1.41 [OR: 1.41, 95% CI (1.29, 1.53)], 1.41 [OR: 1.46, 95% CI (1.23, 1.73)], respectively.


Conclusion
Multiple sexual partners is relatively low in the region. Condom non-use is high in both genders. Additionally, poorest males and females were at higher risk of not using a condom at last risky sexual intercourse.
['Ali|Rahma|R|', 'Tadele|Afework|A|']
D017954:Africa South of the Sahara D017280:Condoms D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008297:Male D015995:Prevalence D012725:Sexual Behavior D012747:Sexual Partners D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Risky sexual behavior Sub-Saharan Africa Demographic and health survey Multiple sexual partner condom non-use