Disordered eating behaviour is not associated with sexual risk taking behaviour amongst emerging adults attending a tertiary education institution in Coastal Kenya: a latent class analysis approach

Abstract Background Sexual risk-taking behavior (SRTB) is a well-documented pathway to HIV acquisition in emerging adults (EmA) and remains common amongst African EmA. We aimed to describe the relationship between disordered eating behavior (DEB) and SRTB amongst EmA attending a tertiary educational institution at the Kenyan Coast. Methods We applied a cross-sectional design nested in a young adults’ cohort study. Eligibility included sexually active EmA aged 18-24 years. Three DEBs (emotional, restrained and external eating) were assessed using the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire and analyzed using exploratory factor analysis. Seven SRTB indicators were assessed: i) non-condom use ii) casual sex iii) multiple sex partners iv) transactional sex v) group sex vi) age-disparate relationship and vii) anal sex, and grouped into low vs. high SRTB using latent class analysis. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between DEB and SRTB. Results Of 273 eligible participants (female, n =110 [40.3%]), the mean [SD] of emotional, restrained and external eating was 1.9 [0.6], 2.0 [0.6] and 3.0 [0.5] respectively. Overall, 57 (20.9%) were grouped into the latent high SRTB class. Emotional (Adjusted odds ratio {AOR [95% confidence interval, CI]: 1.0 [0.9 – 1.0], p = 0.398), restrained (AOR, 1.0 [CI: 0.9 – 1.1], p = 0.301) and External (AOR, 1.0 [CI: 0.8 – 1.2], p = 0.523) eating were not independently associated with latent high SRTB. Conclusion There was no significant association between DEB and SRTB. More studies in different African settings are needed to validate our findings in order to lay a strong evidence base for public health interventions on SRTB in this and similar settings.