Risky sexual behaviour associated with alcohol consumption among males and females in Jos, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The consumption of alcoholic beverages has been known to be responsible for several negative forms, of behavior, actions, attitudes and social ills. The link between alcohol consumption and risky sexual behavior has also been established. As the scorge of HIV ravages the population, the link between alcohol consumption and related risky sexual behavior in the Jos population becomes  relevant and imperative. This is in view of the fact that there has been an increase in the incidence and prevalence rate of HIV in Plateau State in recent times.
Objective: The objective of the study is to find out gender difference in alcohol consumption, and risky sexual behaviors in Jos.
Method: To achieve the objectives of this study 318 males who fall within the age range 18-60 and 318 females who fall within the age range 17-69 were randomly drown from Jos metropolis and environs, Participate were interviewed in beer parlors and residential areas, four research hypotheses were formulated to guide the study.
Result: Of the four result hypotheses, only the second was supported. There was a significant difference in the number of extra- sexual partners kept by males and females who consume alcoholic beverages (x2 = 10.72 > p.05 = 7.52), it was also found that there is a significant relationship; between the desire for sexual intercourse and actual intercourse; for both sexes. Relationship between sexual intercourse and the use of condom for the males was significant. The relationship between caring to know the HIV status of the sexual partner before engaging in the sexual act was not significant for both sexes.
Conclusion: The study found that alcohol consumption makes people to actually engage in the sexual act and risky sexual behavior. Engaging in these risky  behaviors can be implicated in the spread of HIV.

Keyword: Risky sexual behaviour, Alcohol consumption, Male / Female.