Data availability statement: Data are available upon reasonable request. Data may be obtained from a third party and are not publicly available. The aim of this study was to estimate alcohol and tobacco use prevalence and their correlates among female sex workers FSW , men who have sex with men MSM and drug users DU in Togo.
Selection criteria for the MSM were being male and having had oral or anal intercourse with a man in the previous 12 months; for FSW, being a female and having exchanged sex for money in the previous 12 months; and for DU, consuming heroin, cocaine or hashish for MSM, FSW and DU, respectively.
Current tobacco use was reported by Findings from this study demonstrate the need for the integration of mental health and substance abuse reduction interventions into HIV prevention programme, particularly those geared towards key populations. This study is among the first in sub-Saharan Africa exploring the patterns of alcohol and tobacco consumption among the three main groups of key populations.
The use of internationally validated instruments to assess alcohol and tobacco consumption, as well as psychological distress, minimised bias. The main limitation of our study is that it was based on self-reported data which could be a potential source of recall bias or social desirability bias. Other risk factors associated with sexual risk behaviours and thus contributing to HIV transmission include alcohol and tobacco consumption.
Alcohol, a psychoactive substance with dependence-producing properties, has been an integral part of many cultures for several centuries. More than disease and injury conditions including alcohol dependence, liver cirrhosis, cancers and injuries are the consequences of the harmful use of alcohol.
