Sexual Practices, Myths and Misconceptions among Long distance truck drivers in North India

BACKGROUND:

Long distance truck drivers and helpers constitute a high risk group for HIV/AIDS. Despite increasing awareness of HIV/AIDS and safe sex practices, they still have a high incidence of new cases of HIV.

AIMS:

This study carried out at an ART (Anti-retroviral treatment ) centre in North India aimed to evaluate the sexual myths and misconceptions prevalent among long distance drivers and helpers.

METHODS:

Data was collected retrospectively from ART records of 129 long distance Truck drivers and 68 helpers. Details of socio-demographic characteristics, contact with commercial sex workers (CSW'S), pattern of condom usage with CSW'S and factors influencing it were studied.

RESULTS:

We found that a significant number of drivers and helpers had sexual contact with CSW's and out of these, 30% of drivers and 50% of helpers reported not using condoms and instead resorting to methods like washing genitalia after sex with battery water/urine to avoid getting HIV. There was no significant relationship between pattern of condom usage and educational status, marital status and age. We also found that certain myths like sex with young CSW's was less likely to cause sexually transmitted diseases (STD's) and HIV were also widespread.

CONCLUSION:

Owing to continuing prevalence of such sexual myths, long distance truck drivers and helpers do not use condoms while having sex with commercial sex workers(CSW's) as they feel that they can enjoy sex with CSW's and still stay protected against STD's /HIV. It is imperative that this battery water/urine antiseptic myth be specifically targeted for better HIV control in this high risk group.

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By:  Sawal N1, Raj Hans GD2, Verma G3.

• 1Junior Resident. Dept. of Medicine. Indira Gandhi Medical College - Shimla (Himachal Pradesh). drnishitsawal@gmail.com.
• 2Medical Officer. ART Clinic. Indira Gandhi Medical College - Shimla (Himachal Pradesh). India.
• 3HIV councilor. ART Clinic. Indira Gandhi Medical College - Shimla (Himachal Pradesh). India. 

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How Long-Distance Truck Drivers & Villagers in Rural Southeastern Tanzania Think About Heterosexual Anal Sex

Objective To explore ideas of truck drivers and villagers from rural Tanzania about heterosexual anal sex (HAS) and the associated health risks.

Methods Qualitative study using 8 in-depth interviews (IDIs) and 2 focus group discussions (FGDs) with truck drivers and 16 IDIs and 4 FGDs with villagers from the Morogoro region. Study participants included 24 women and 46 men. Data analysis was performed thematically employing standard qualitative techniques.

Results Reasons why men would practice HAS included sexual pleasure, the belief that anal sex is safer than vaginal sex, alternative sexual practice, exploration and proof of masculinity. Reasons why women would practice HAS included financial need, retaining a partner, alternative for sex during menses, pregnancy prevention and beauty enhancement because HAS is believed to ‘fatten the female buttocks’. Most participants believed that condoms are not needed during HAS. This was linked to the ideas that infections only ‘reside in wet places’ (vagina) and that the anus is not ‘conducive’ for condom use; condoms reduce ‘dryness’ and ‘friction’ (pleasure) and may ‘get stuck inside’.

Conclusions The study participants reported practices and ideas about HAS that put them at risk for HIV and sexually transmitted infections. Greater attention to education about HAS is urgently needed in Tanzania, where this sexual practice is still regarded as a taboo. This study offers useful information that could be included in sex education programmes.

Full article at:  http://goo.gl/rRKXi3

By:  S Mtenga¹, D Shamba¹, J Wamoyi², D Kakoko³, J Haafkens⁴, A Mongi⁵, S Kapiga⁵, E Geubbels¹

-Author Affiliations

¹Department of Impact Evaluation, Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

²National Institute for Medical Research Institute (NIMR), Mwanza Center, Mwanza, Tanzania

³Department of Behavioural Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Science (MUHAS), School of Public Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

⁴Department of General Practice, Centre for Social Science and Global Health, University of Amsterdam and Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

⁵Mwanza Intervention Trial Unit (MITU), Mwanza, Tanzania

 

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Occupational Conditions & The Risk of The Use of Amphetamines by Truck Drivers

To test whether the occupational conditions of professional truck drivers are associated with amphetamine use after demographic characteristics and ones regarding mental health and drug use are controlled for.

Cross-sectional study, with a non-probabilistic sample of 684 male truck drivers, which was collected in three highways in Sao Paulo between years 2012 and 2013. Demographic and occupational information was collected, as well as data on drug use and mental health (sleep quality, emotional stress, and psychiatric disorders). A logistic regression model was developed to identify factors associated with amphetamine use. Odds ratio (OR; 95%CI) was defined as the measure for association. The significance level was established as p < 0.05.

The studied sample was found to have an average age of 36.7 (SD = 7.8) years, as well as low education (8.6 [SD = 2.3] years); 29.0% of drivers reported having used amphetamines within the twelve months prior to their interviews. After demographic and occupational variables had been controlled for, the factors which indicated amphetamine use among truck drivers were the following: being younger than 38 years, having spent less than nine years at school, being autonomous, working night shifts or irregular schedules, working over 12 hours daily, and drinking alcohol.

Occupational aspects are closely related to amphetamine use among truck drivers, which reinforces the importance of closely following the application of law (Resting Act (“Lei do Descanso”); Law 12,619/2012) which regulates the workload and hours of those professionals. Our results show the need for increased strictness on the trade and prescription of amphetamines in Brazil.

Full article at:  http://goo.gl/67mE9L

By: Lúcio Garcia de Oliveira, ^I Letícia Maria de Araújo de Souza, ^I Lúcia Pereira Barroso, ^II Marcela Júlio César Gouvêa, ^ICarlos Vinícius Dias de Almeida, ^I Daniel Romero Muñoz, ^I and Vilma Leyton ^I

IDepartamento de Medicina Legal, Ética Médica, Medicina Social e do Trabalho. Faculdade de Medicina. Universidade de São Paulo. São Paulo, SP, Brasil

IIDepartamento de Estatística. Instituto de Matemática e Estatística. Universidade de São Paulo. São Paulo, SP, Brasil

Correspondence: Lucio Garcia de Oliveira Departamento de Medicina Legal, Ética Médica, Medicina Social e do Trabalho – FMUSP Instituto Oscar Freire Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 455 01246-903 São Paulo, SP, Brasil E-mail: moc.liamg@revilogcul

  

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Prevalence of HIV and Associated Risk Factors among Long Distance Truck Drivers in Inchope, Mozambique, 2012

This is the first integrated biological and behavioral surveillance survey among long-distance truck drivers (LDTD) in Mozambique. Using modified time-location sampling in 2012 at a key transportation junction (Inchope), we enrolled 327 male LDTD. 

• HIV prevalence was 15.4%. 
• Among HIV-positive LDTD, 83.7% did not know their status. 
• One-third of LDTD had never tested for HIV 
• and three-quarters had not received free condoms, lubricants or HIV literature in the past 12 months. 
• In that same period, 61.4% of LDTD had at least four sexual partners 
• and 27.1% paid for sex. 
• Among sexually-active LDTD, 76.5% did not use a condom at last sex. 
• HIV was associated with 
• primary education or lower, 
• residence in Mozambique 
• and never having tested for HIV. 

Our findings reveal that broader coverage of HIV prevention and comprehensive care services for LDTD are urgently needed.

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By: Botão C1, Horth RZ2, Frank H2, Cummings B3, Inguane C4, Sathane I4, McFarland W2, Fisher Raymond H2, Young PW3.

• 1National Institute of Health, Ministry of Health-Mozambique, Maputo, Mozambique.
• 2Global Health Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
• 3Division of Global HIV/AIDS, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Maputo, Mozambique.
• 4International Training and Education Center for Health (I-TECH), Maputo, Mozambique.

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Partner Characteristics Associated with HIV Acquisition among Youth in Rakai, Uganda

RESULTS:
In regression analyses controlling for marital status, young women's risk of HIV acquisition increased if their partner was a truck driver, drank alcohol before sex, and used condoms inconsistently. In young men, the risk of HIV acquisition increased with partners who were not enrolled in school, in partnerships with higher coital frequency, and in partnerships where respondents were unable to assess the HIV risk of their partner. Mixed-model regressions adjusting for respondent's individual-level risk factors, showed that young women's risk of HIV acquisition increased with each non-marital sexual partner (IRR: 1.54 [1.20-1.98]), each partner who drank alcohol before sex (IRR: 1.60 [1.11-2.32]), and each partner who used condoms inconsistently (IRR: 1.99 [1.33-2.98]). Among young men, having non-marital partnerships increased HIV acquisition (IRR for each partner: 1.54[1.20, 1.98]).

IMPLICATIONS:
Partner characteristics predicted HIV acquisition among youth. HIV prevention programs should emphasize awareness of partner's risk characteristics to avoid high risk relationships.

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