Prevalence and risk factors for alcohol use disorders, substance use disorders, and depression anxiety and stress among users of sexual health services in Singapore: a cross-sectional survey study
Wen Zhi Ng A # , Khairul Ariffin A # , Peter Kay Chai Tay B , Mukul Prasad A , Calvin Tan A , Chronos Kwok A and Rayner Kay Jin Tan
C D *
A Action for AIDS Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
B Health and Social Sciences, Singapore Institute of Technology, Singapore, Singapore.
C Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.
D University of North Carolina Project-China, Guangzhou, China.
Handling Editor: Ian Simms
Sexual Health 20(4) 363-365 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH23023
Submitted: 6 September 2022 Accepted: 27 March 2023 Published: 24 April 2023
© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing
Abstract
Syndemics of poor mental health also drive poorer sexual health outcomes. This study used three scales, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10), and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) among beneficiaries of sexual health services in Singapore (n = 975), respectively. We found that a prevalence of 20.4% and 18.6% of hazardous and moderate-severe alcohol use disorders and substance use risks, respectively. About 13.7%, 18.1% and 10.5% of participants reported severe to extremely severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively. Further investigation and integrated interventions for mental health in sexual health settings are warranted.
Keywords: alcohol use disorder, anxiety, depression, mental health, sexual health services, Singapore, stress, substance use disorder.
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