Patterns of substance use and its predictors among North-West University students Mafikeng campus

The aim of this study was to examine the pattern of substance use among university students in South Africa. A cross-sectional study of randomly selected 416 students was conducted. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. The result of the study indicated that current alcohol use was reported by 67.5%, Cigarette, 21.4%, cannabis, 17.3% and glue 2.9%. Alcohol consumption was associated with sex, age, religious affiliation, home language, family influence, and substance experimentation. Sex and substance experimentation were predictors of cigarette smoking. Cannabis use was associated with respondent’s sociocultural group and family influence. There is need to strengthen the family structure of homes as present substance use is rooted in family influences. Educational programmes that emphasise the dangers of experimenting with substance to young people may have great potential in minimizing substance use.Keywords: pattern, psychoactive, substance use, peer pressure, experimentin

Impact of male circumcision on HIV risk compensation through the impediment of condom use in Botswana

Background: Male circumcision has been recommended as a method of reducing the risk of transmitting HIV. However, widespread uptake of male circumcision may lead to HIV risk compensation by impeding condom use. Objective: To investigate the impact of male circumcision on condom use. Methods: The study used cross-sectional data from the Botswana AIDS Impact Survey III on 1,257 men aged 15 years or older who were sexually active. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s chi-square statistic and binary logistic regression. Results: The study found that 15% of circumcised men did not use condoms compared to 12% of uncircumcised men, and circumcision was not significantly associated with condom use. Non-use of condoms was significantly affected by religious beliefs, low level of education, marriage, drunkenness, and misconceptions regarding antiretroviral therapy (ART). Conclusions: We conclude that male circumcision does not impede condom use. Condom use is impeded by low level of education, marriage, drunkenness, and misconceptions regarding ART. We recommend the emphasis of consistent condom use targeting people with low education, those in marriage, users of alcohol, and people receiving ART

Corrigendum: Factors related to married or cohabiting women’s decision to use modern contraceptive methods in Mafikeng, South Africa

No abstract available

The impact of HIV/AIDS stigma on HIV counseling and testing in a high HIV prevalence population in Uganda

Background: Despite its importance in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, HIV/AIDS Counseling and Testing (HCT) is low in sub-Saharan Africa, where the disease continues to be a serious public health problem. This has in part been attributed to HIV/AIDS related stigma. Objective: To assess the level of HIV/AIDS related stigma and its impact on uptake of HCT in a high HIV prevalence population in Uganda. Methods: The paper used cross-sectional data on 135 men and 185 women in reproductive ages. Data were analyzed using the Pearson’s chi-square statistic and the random intercept binary logistic regression model to identify significant predictors of uptake of HCT. Results: The result shows that only 18.4% of the respondents, most of them men expressed highly stigmatizing attitudes against PLHA and 59%, men and women alike, received HCT. Uptake of HCT was higher among men (OR=1.89, p<0.01) and women (OR=4.48, p <0.001) who expressed least stigmatizing attitudes. Secondary/higher education, work in the informal sector and being ever married were significant predictors of uptake of HCT. Compared to men, women aged 25-34, 35+ and with one sexual partner were more likely to have received HCT. Conclusions: The low level of stigma, older age, higher level of education, being ever married and monogamous sexual relationships are significant predictors of increased uptake of HCT