20 Oct 2013

The prevalent use of alcohol and drugs amongst female sex workers and males who have sex with other males increases infection of HIV and AIDS, the Francistown Health Institute’s regional technical advisor, Dr Mike Merrigan has said.

Speaking at the launch of HIV and AIDS prevention and case study results by the Ministry of Health through the Department of HIV and AIDS Prevention and Care on October 17, Dr Merrigan said alcohol was the most common substance used by female sex workers. He said 55.4 per cent of female sex workers reported that they consumed six or more drinks before sex at least two or three times in a week.

A little more than 11 per cent said that after consuming too much alcohol they could not remember what happened the night before while 14.7 per cent said it happens more than once a month, he said.

In Francistown, he said marijuana was the next most popular drug with 8.91 per cent cases recorded in a month, followed by pills at 1.8 per cent. Giving comparison with other places, Dr Merrigan said cocaine in Francistown was used at a rate of two per cent while in Gaborone and Kasane it was one per cent. When it comes to males who have sex with other males, Dr Merrigan said in Francistown 65.2 per cent of them reported to drink at least once a week.

The leading place with the highest number of alcohol abuse by males who have sex with other males is Gaborone with 69.8 per cent followed by Kasane at 44.8 per cent. He stated that  when males who have sex with other males were asked how often in the past they were not able to remember what happened at least  the night before due to excessive alcohol consumption and the  results were similar in all districts.

Dr Merrigan said the situation had seen 12.2 per cent of respondents reporting that it happens monthly or less frequently and seven per cent reporting that it happens at least twice a month. Responding on how often they have six or more drinks before sex, of those who reported drinking alcohol, he noted that 43 per cent said they drink six or more drinks before sex at least once a week.

Furthermore, Dr Merrigan also said amongst males who have sex with other males in terms of other drug use in Francistown, there were no reports but marijuana use was highest in Francistown, recording 30.4 per cent, followed by Kasane with 26.7 per cent and Gaborone with 15.1 per cent.

“With such a high rate of both female sex workers and males who have sex with other males not able to remember what happened at least  the night before due to excessive alcohol consumption, this means they do have sex without protection and this increases the  spread of STDs,”  he said. ENDS