1. Maria Cabrera Escobar Nkosinathi Ngcobo & Timothy Quinlan
The relationship between socio-economic status and HIV prevalence among adolescents in three South African provinces
A study commissioned by Irish Aid
Maria Cabrera Escobar
Nkosinathi Ngcobo & Timothy Quinlan

2. South Africa: 5.4 million people HIV infected (2006)
¼ (1.3 million) were under 25 years of age
HIV prevalence ( years) was 10.4%
Adolescents age category is known to be susceptible to HIV infection
Risk - related to various factors: e.g. the income of parents, relationships with peers, neighborhood, learning and work environments (CADRE)

3. Objective To study sexual exposure and behaviour, substance abuse and
HIV prevalence of the South African adolescent
in relation to their socio-economic status

4. Materials and Methods Cross-sectional study Secondary data sets
Adolescents from 14 – 19 years.
Representative sampling from 3 provinces:
KwaZulu-Natal,
Mpumalanga &
Limpopo

6. Data-source Data set: Youth Questionnaires 2005
from Reproductive Health Research Unit (RHRU,
University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg)
Total Sample Size (SA):
Our sample size (3 provinces): n = 3099

7. Variables of interest Dependent Variables: HIV Prevalence
Sexual Risk (exposure and non-usage of condom)
Substance abuse (sex under influence of alcohol & drugs)
Independent variables:
Demographics
Level of Education
Household conditions (electricity and building materials)

8. Statistical Analysis Descriptive statistics Logistic regression
Significance level at 95%

9. Findings Mean age: 17 years Male: 49% Female: 51%
HIV status (+ve) (14–19 years): 5.4%
KwaZulu-Natal: 7.5%
Mpumalanga: 5.8%
Limpopo: 2.5%

10. Sexual exposure and behaviour (exposure & non-usage of condom)
OR = 1.7 (CI, 1.6 – 1.8)
Gender:
Male = 0.7 (CI, 0.6 – 0.9)
Female = 1
Socio-economic status:
High = 0.8 (CI, 0.7 – 0.9)
Medium = 0.7 (CI, 1.4 – 4.1)
Low = 1

11. Sex under influence of alcohol
Age:
OR = 1.8 (CI, 1.6 – 2.1)
Gender:
Male = 4.9 (CI, 3.4 – 7.3),
Female = 1
Socio-economic status:
High = 2.4 (CI, 1.4 – 4.1)
Medium = 2.3 (CI, 1.5 – 3.8)
Low = 1

12. Sex under influence of drugs
Only boys reported
Age:
OR = 1.5 (CI, 1.4 – 2.9)
Socio-economic status:
High = 1.1 (CI, 1.4 – 2.9)
Low = 1

13. Conclusion Age Gender Socio-economic status significant effect on
 had an influence on risky sexual exposure and behaviour
Gender
 girls were more likely to be HIV infected than boys
Socio-economic status significant effect on
 risky sexual exposure and behaviour
 sex under the influence of substance abuse

14. Recommendations Further in-depth research on this topic
Calculate socio-economic index more effectively

15. University of KwaZulu-Natal
Thank You!