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Gender and Sex Trading Among Active Methamphetamine Users in Cape Town, South Africa.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Lion, RR; Watt, MH; Wechsberg, WM; Meade, CS
Published in: Substance use & misuse
May 2017

South Africa has experienced a tremendous rise in methamphetamine use since the year 2000. Sex trading is a global phenomenon that has been observed in active drug users and has been associated with risks for HIV infection and violence.This paper describes and examines the correlates of sex trading among active methamphetamine users in Cape Town, South Africa.Through peer referral, 360 (201 male; 159 female) active methamphetamine users were recruited in a peri-urban township. Demographics, sex trading, drug use, trauma, and mental health were assessed by a structured clinical interview and computer survey. Logistic regression models were used to examine predictors of sex trading for men and women.In the past 3 months, 40% of men and 33% of women endorsed trading sex for methamphetamine or money. Among these, they reported trading with same sex partners (33%), high rates of inconsistent condom use (73%), and incidences of physical (23%) and sexual (27%) assault when sex trading. Increased drug use severity was correlated with sex trading. Women with experiences of violence and trauma were also more likely to trade sex. Conclusions/importance: The results stress a need for linkage to drug treatment, as addiction may be fueling sex trading. Targeted interventions geared towards safe sex practices may reduce risky sexual behaviors. Women need interventions that are attuned to their specific vulnerabilities. More research is needed to explore the experiences of men who have sex with men given their particularly high rates of sex trading behavior.

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Published In

Substance use & misuse

DOI

EISSN

1532-2491

ISSN

1082-6084

Publication Date

May 2017

Volume

52

Issue

6

Start / End Page

773 / 784

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Violence
  • Unsafe Sex
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Substance Abuse
  • South Africa
  • Sex Work
  • Sex Factors
  • Middle Aged
  • Methamphetamine
 

Citation

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Lion, R. R., Watt, M. H., Wechsberg, W. M., & Meade, C. S. (2017). Gender and Sex Trading Among Active Methamphetamine Users in Cape Town, South Africa. Substance Use & Misuse, 52(6), 773–784. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2016.1264964
Lion, Ryan R., Melissa H. Watt, Wendee M. Wechsberg, and Christina S. Meade. “Gender and Sex Trading Among Active Methamphetamine Users in Cape Town, South Africa.Substance Use & Misuse 52, no. 6 (May 2017): 773–84. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2016.1264964.
Lion RR, Watt MH, Wechsberg WM, Meade CS. Gender and Sex Trading Among Active Methamphetamine Users in Cape Town, South Africa. Substance use & misuse. 2017 May;52(6):773–84.
Lion, Ryan R., et al. “Gender and Sex Trading Among Active Methamphetamine Users in Cape Town, South Africa.Substance Use & Misuse, vol. 52, no. 6, May 2017, pp. 773–84. Epmc, doi:10.1080/10826084.2016.1264964.
Lion RR, Watt MH, Wechsberg WM, Meade CS. Gender and Sex Trading Among Active Methamphetamine Users in Cape Town, South Africa. Substance use & misuse. 2017 May;52(6):773–784.

Published In

Substance use & misuse

DOI

EISSN

1532-2491

ISSN

1082-6084

Publication Date

May 2017

Volume

52

Issue

6

Start / End Page

773 / 784

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Violence
  • Unsafe Sex
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Substance Abuse
  • South Africa
  • Sex Work
  • Sex Factors
  • Middle Aged
  • Methamphetamine