Source
Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands. h.voeten@erasmusmc.nl
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
HIV/sexually transmitted disease interventions in sub-Saharan Africa have largely been focused on urban areas, where sexual behavior is supposed to be more risky than in rural areas.
GOAL:
The goal of this study was to measure sexual risk behavior among young adults in Nyanza province in Kenya and to compare rural and urban areas.
STUDY:
In a cross-sectional study, 584 household members aged 15 to 29 years in Kisumu town and the rural districts Siaya and Bondo were selected by multistage random sampling and were administered a face-to-face questionnaire.
RESULTS:
For women, sexual behavior was more risky in rural than in urban areas, also after adjusting for sociodemographic differences. Rural women reported less frequently being a virgin at marriage, a higher number of lifetime partners, and less consistent condom use with nonspousal partners. For men, sexual risk behavior was equally high in urban and rural areas.
CONCLUSIONS:
The potential for further HIV spread in rural Nyanza is large. HIV/sexually transmitted disease interventions should be expanded from urban to rural areas in Nyanza.