Objective: Little is known about the prevalence and the effect of sexual coercion on risky sexual behaviour in
the context of Botswana. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the experience of
sexual coercion and risky sexual behaviour.
Methods: The study used a nationally representative population-based survey data from the 2008 Botswana
AIDS Impact Survey III. We used cross-tabulations and multivariate logistic regression analysis to investigate
an association between the experience of sexual coercion and risky sexual behaviour.
Results: Out of the 2,455 respondents, the prevalence of sexual coercion was 5% (3.1% males and 8.1%
females). The adjusted odds ratios showed that only the respondents who reported having experienced sexual
coercion compared to those who did not were 1.9 times more likely to report having engaged in multiple
sexual partnerships and this relationship was statistically significant at 1% level.
Conclusion: The results suggest that in order to implement effective HIV/AIDS prevention strategies it is
imperative to adopt a more holistic and multifaceted approach that includes issues of sexual violence.