Citation

Vannappagari, Vani (2005). Sexual risk behaviors, HIV knowledge and attitudes among a nationally representative sample of 14--49-year-old population of the Russian Federation. Master's thesis / Doctoral dissertation.

Abstract

Objectives . Our study examined sexual risk behaviors pertinent to the spread of HIV and HIV knowledge and attitudes in a nationally representative sample of 14-49 year-old Russian population. We also assessed the relationship between alcohol and high risk sexual behavior at event and global levels. The event level analysis involved drinking during the most recent sexual event and indicators of high risk sexual behavior. Global level analysis evaluated drinking pattern as reported for the past 30 days and indicators of high risk sexual behavior. Methods . Data for the project came from the Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS), which selected participants through a multi-stage probability sampling scheme, to obtain a nationally representative sample of the Russian Federation. Sexual behavior survey module was conducted among 5807 participants between 14 and 49 years of age in 2001. Results . Overall, mean age at coital debut for study participants was 18.5 years. Among the married participants 15.2% (15.9% male vs. 14.7% female) reported having a non-marital partner during the most recent sexual act and two thirds did not use a condom. Among the 23.4% of the participants reported having two or more sexual partners during the previous year, about two thirds did not use a condom at their last sexual encounter. Our results showed that at event level, participants who had consumed alcohol during last sex were more likely to report more than two sexual partners (POR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.61-2.44) and history of symptoms suggestive of STDs (POR = 2.97, 95% CI = 1.82-4.85) in the past year. Married participants who reported drinking were more likely to reporting sex with a non-marital partner (POR = 2.21, 95% CI = 1.57-3.13) and more likely to use condom at the same sexual encounter (POR for not using a condom = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.22-1.02). At global level, our results showed a slight positive but imprecise association between drinking and reporting multiple partners during the past year. The POR for 30-90 grams/day category was 1.25 (95% CI = 0.93-1.67) and the POR for >90 grams/day category was 1.34 (95% CI = 0.84-2.14), as compared to those who reported drinking less than 30 gram/day. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Reference Type

Thesis

Year Published

2005

Author(s)

Vannappagari, Vani