Meta-analysis on risky sexual behaviour of men: Consistent findings from different parts of the world

Abstract

The aim of this analysis was to determine the consistency of higher-risk sex practice among educated and/or wealthy men in different parts of the world. Meta-analysis was done on risky sexual behaviour of men using the recent Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS 2003–2009) data from 26 countries in and outside Africa. DHS data were accessed through electronic databases. In this analysis, since there was significant heterogeneity (I ²>50%) among surveys findings, random effects analytic model was applied. Mantel-Haenszel statistical method was used to calculate the pooled odds ratios across countries. Out of 79,736 men aged 15–49 years who had sexual intercourse in 12 months preceding the respective survey, 35.7% reported to have higher-risk sex. The proportion of higher-risk sex was found positively correlated with increased wealth index. In 24 countries, higher-risk sex was found to have highly statistically significant association with men living in urban areas, educated to secondary and above, and owned middle to highest wealth index. The overall condom use during the last higher-risk sexual encounter was 47% but condom use was better practiced by educated men. Nearly in two-thirds of countries reported HIV-prevalence, the proportion of HIV infection was highest among better educated. In conclusion, this meta-analysis has shown that risk taking sexual behaviour is invariably associated with high educational attainment, urban residence and better wealth index regardless of geographic location of men participated in the surveys.

Keywords:

• education
• higher-risk sex
• residence
• wealth
• condom
• HIV-prevalence

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge MEASURE DHS for providing the DHS data in the form of PDF. For this work, we have not got any financial or technical support. But the encouragement we got from Eden Asefa and Dr Mebrat Deribe was energizing.