260309 Experiences of forced sex among female patrons of alcohol-serving venues in a South African township

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Melissa Watt, PhD , Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC
Karmel Wong , Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC
Kathleen Sikkema, Ph.D. , Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC
Donald Skinner, PhD , Center for Research on Health and Society, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa
Desiree Pieterse, MPH , Center for Research on Health and Society, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa
Seth C. Kalichman, PhD , Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
BACKGROUND: South Africa has high rates of both heavy drinking and forced sex. Alcohol has consistently been associated with risk of forced sex. This study examined the prevalence of forced sex among South African women attending alcohol-serving venues and identified factors associated with reporting recent forced sex. METHODS: 793 women were recruited from 12 alcohol-serving venues in a peri-urban township in Cape Town. Brief self-administered surveys included questions about lifetime and recent experience of forced sex, including sex by physical force, threats, verbal persuasion, trickery and spiked drinks. For analysis, we defined forced sex as unwanted sex by physical force, threats or spiked drinks. Participants also reported drinking behavior, frequency of attending the venue, recent intimate partner violence (IPV), and childhood sexual abuse (CSA) history. We analyzed associations between these variables and recent forced sex, and included variables associated at p<.10 in a final logistic regression model. RESULTS: 30.6% endorsed any of the five forced sex questions. Using our definition, 19.6% of women reported lifetime and 10.8% reported recent experiences of forced sex. In our logistic regression model, recent forced sex was significantly associated with hazardous drinking (OR=3.14), recent IPV (OR=2.44), and a history of CSA (OR=4.50). CONCLUSION: Among female patrons of alcohol-serving venues, rates of forced sex were higher than a national sample. The relationship with hazardous drinking suggests that alcohol may be both a risk factor and a way to cope with abuse. Addressing IPV and mental health sequelae of CSA might help prevent risk of forced sex.

Learning Areas:
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Describe factors associated with recent experience of forced sex among South African women attending alcohol-serving venues.

Keywords: Women's Health, International

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am an investigator on this study and was involved throughout data collection, management and analysis.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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