The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #46879

Karen F. Trocki, PHD¹, Jason Bond, PhD², Patricia A. McDaniel, PhD², Kirsten Piroth, MPhil³, and Rachael Korcha, MS³. (1) Alcohol Research Group, Public Health ALcohol Research Group, Berkeley, CA, 2000 Hearst Ave., Suite 300, Berkeley, CA 94709, 510-642-5208, ktrocki@arg.org, (2) Alcohol Research Group, 2000 Hearst Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94709, (3) Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, 2000 Hearst Avenue, Suite 300, Berkeley, CA 94709-2176

Introduction General substance use tends to be related to sexual risk-taking patterns in complex ways. For instance, a consistent relationship has been noted between heavier drinking with problematic consequences and having more sexual partners and more STIs. The question we are addressing is whether there are differences between a national sample and the regional (San Francisco Bay Area) in sexual risk patterns, and, if so, is this account for by differences in substance use and/or demographics. Methods During data collection for the National Alcohol Survey, a large subsample (n=1021) of cases were collected in three counties of the San Francisco Bay Area. Sexual risk-taking data were collected on these individuals as well as on those under the age of 40 in the national sample (n=3126 out of a total sample of over 8500 cases). Results Bay Area respondents have more sexual partners and more STIs. Being in the regional sample was still predictive of having more STIs and more sexual partners even when demographic and substance-related variables were entered into the multi-variate equation. However none of the these variables had significant interactions terms with regional sample status. Conclusion: Sexual risk parameters are higher in the Bay Area. However the regional sample does not appear to require a different model to explain relationships. Besides demographics, STIs are predicted by having had alcohol-related consequences whereas multiple sexual partners is predicted by heavier drinking and frequency of drunkenness. Location can be an important factor in risk for disease but not always for obvious reasons.

Learning Objectives: Participants attending this session will be able to

• Articulate how alcohol consumption patterns and other risk factors affect alcohol dependence and alcohol consequences (such as family, work or legal problems) in special population groups including black, white and Hispanic Americans, women, and lesbian and gay men.
• Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of survey methods to study alcohol and other substance use and related problems in these special populations.
• Recognize and discuss a number public health practice and policy implications of these new survey data, such as identification of at-risk groups, developing evidence-based interventions and alcohol policies, and tailoring health messages to special groups.

Keywords: Alcohol Problems, Sexual Risk Behavior

Related Web page: www.arg.org

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.