Investigating associations between methamphetamine use, mental health and risky sexual behaviours amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Handan Wand, Rachel Reilly, Rebecca McKetin, Brendan Quinn, Yvette Roe, Kate Conigrave, Nadine Ezard, Julia Butt, Carla Treloar, Leda Sivak, India Shackleford, Adrian Dunlop, James Ward

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have expressed significant concern about methamphetamine use and its associated harms. Additionally, there has been an increase in sexually transmitted infection (STI) notifications among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in recent years. This cross-sectional study explored associations between high STI risk sexual behaviour (HSRSB), methamphetamine and mental health among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who use methamphetamine. Multivariate logistic regression and population attributable risk that accounts for the correlation structures were used. Participants were 224 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men (52%) and 209 women (48%). Those who used methamphetamine weekly or more were more than twice as likely to engage in HSRSB, compared to those who used methamphetamine less frequently (i.e. > weekly) (aOR: 2.10, 95% CI: 1.13, 3.90, and 2.73, 95% CI: 1.52, 4.93 for males and females respectively). Among other drugs, using ecstasy was also significantly associated with HSRSB in both genders (aOR: 3.97, 95% CI: 1.17, 13.42 and aOR: 5.32, 95% CI: 2.05, 13.82 for males and females). The combined impact of mental health conditions was substantially higher among females than males (PAR%: 46% and 27%, respectively). The findings may inform the targeting of health promotion programs for STI prevention towards those at higher risk due to methamphetamine use and mental health issues.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number200267
    Pages (from-to)1-8
    Number of pages8
    JournalMental Health And Prevention
    Volume30
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Jun 2023

    Bibliographical note

    Funding Information:
    This project was funded by an National Health and Medical Research Council Project Grant ( #1100696 ); and a Seed Funding Grant ( NCR2SF17 ) from the National Centre for Clinical Research on Emerging Drugs . Prof James Ward is supported by the Sylvia and Charles Viertel Senior Medical Research Fellowship .

    Funding Information:
    We thank the NIMAC site co-ordinators, advisory group members, research participants and health service staff. For assistance with project conceptualisation, data collection, analysis or editing we thank: Alex Brown, Margaret Cargo, Dennis Gray, Wade Longbottom, Emma Donley, Warren Clements, Harry Miller, Shani Crumpen, Paul Briggs, Clifford Warrior, Josh Fitton, Michael Cullen and Hannah Whetham. James Ward is supported by the Sylvia and Charles Viertel Senior Medical Research Fellowship and Katherine Conigrave by an NHMRC Practitioner Fellowship (APP1117582). This project was funded by a National Health and Medical Research Council Project Grant (APP1100696)

    Publisher Copyright:
    © 2023 Elsevier GmbH

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