Methamphetamine ("tik") use and its association with condom use among out-of-school females in Cape Town, South Africa
Wechsberg, W.M.; Jones, H.E.; Zule, W.A.; Myers, B.J.; Browne, F.A.; Kaufman, M.R.; Luseno, W.; Flisher, A.J.; Parry, C.D.H.
American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse 36(4): 208-213
2010
ISSN/ISBN: 0095-2990 PMID: 20560840 DOI: 10.3109/00952990.2010.493592Document Number: 211479
Little is known about the association between methamphetamine use and sexual risk behaviors among young South African women between 13 and 20 years of age. To examine the association between methamphetamine use and condom use among out-of-school South African female adolescents. Black and Coloured female adolescents were interviewed and categorized into methamphetamine user (n = 261) or non-user (n = 188) groups. Methamphetamine use was reported by 58% of the total sample. Higher methamphetamine rates were found among young Coloured females (87%) than among young Black females (11%). In a multiple logistic regression analysis that adjusted for relevant confounders and included an interaction term for race and methamphetamine use, Coloured female methamphetamine users were over six times more likely than other participants to report not using a condom the last time they had sex (OR = 6.21; 95% CI = 1.21, 31.94). Efforts are needed to reduce methamphetamine use and related sexual risk among adolescent females in Coloured communities and to prevent the spread of methamphetamine use in Black African communities.