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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Zelde Espinel, MD, Department of Public Health, Florida International University, 3000 N.E. 151 St. AC1-394, North Miami, FL 33181, 305-936-1146, zespi001@fiu.edu and H. Virginia McCoy, PhD, College of Health, Department of Public Health, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151 Street, North Miami, FL 33181.
Objectives. This study examined gender effects on the relationship between alcohol consumption and risky sexual behavior. Methods. Data were collected as part of a survey of young adults in Miami-Dade County, Florida conducted in association with the Miami-Dade County Public Health Department*. This study included 172 subjects aged 18-25 who provided information on alcohol consumption and sexual behavior. Results. In bivariate statistical analysis, alcohol consumption was associated with risky sexual behaviors (measured as drinking while having sex and having multiple sexual partners). Drinking while engaging in sexual activity in the last 30 days was associated with consistent condom use (X2=4.919, p=.027). Heavy drinking in the last 30 days was associated with having multiple sexual partners (X2=8.632, p=.003); and drinking while engaging in sexual activity in the last 30 days was associated with having multiple sexual partners (X2=20.095, p=.000). After adjusting for gender, only the association between multiple sexual partners and alcohol use in conjuction with sexual activity remained for men (X2=6.000, p=.014), but not for women. Conclusions. Alcohol use and risky sex are complex behaviors. This paper contributes to the mounting research that indicates that the relationship between them is quite intricate. Based on these findings, it cannot be concluded that use of alcohol leads to risky sexual behavior. Hence, intervention designers should consider gender differences. * Acknowledgments to Mary Jo Trepka, MD, MPH, and Alessandria Killingsworth
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Sexual Risk Behavior, Alcohol Use
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.