Publication: Mental health, childhood abuse and HIV sexual risk behaviour among university students in Ivory Coast
Issued Date
2013
Resource Type
Language
eng
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Mahidol University
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BioMed Central
Bibliographic Citation
Annals of General Psychiatry. Vol.12, (2013), 18
Suggested Citation
Peltzer, Karl, Supa Pengpid, Issaka Tiembre Mental health, childhood abuse and HIV sexual risk behaviour among university students in Ivory Coast. Annals of General Psychiatry. Vol.12, (2013), 18. Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/2845
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Title
Mental health, childhood abuse and HIV sexual risk behaviour among university students in Ivory Coast
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Abstract
Background: Little focus has been paid to the role of poor mental health and childhood abuse among young
people with regard to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk behaviour and HIV prevention in Africa. The aim of
this study was to determine the association between mental health, childhood abuse and HIV sexual risk behaviour
among a sample of university students in Ivory Coast.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with undergraduate students that were recruited randomly from
classes at the Félix Houphouët Boigny University of Cocody. The sample included 824 university students (50% men
and 50% women), with a mean age of 23.7 years (SD = 2.7).
Results: Of the 824 university students who completed the survey, 17.6% reported depression, 10.8% screened
positive for post-traumatic stress disorder, 8.3% reported at least monthly heavy episodic drinking, 13.5% reported
childhood physical abuse and 4.7% sexual abuse, 33.9% had two or more sexual partners in the past 12 months,
66.3% had inconsistent condom use, 23.6% had alcohol use in the context of sex and 16.7% had a history of a
sexually transmitted infection In multivariable analysis among men, lack of religiousness and alcohol use in the
context of sex were associated with HIV risk behaviour, and among women, poorer family background, experience
of sexual and physical partner violence, alcohol use in the context of sex and depression were associated with HIV
risk behaviour.
Conclusions: Poor mental health (depression) including alcohol use and partner violence was found to be
associated with HIV risk behaviour. Coordinated mental health and sexual and reproductive health services to meet
the needs of university students would be desirable.