The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #63033

Fred Molitor¹, Assunta Ritieni, MHS², Juan D. Ruiz, MD, Dr PH³, Matthew R Facer, PhD², Andrés Nuñez, MD⁴, and Michele Ginsberg, MD⁵. (1) ETR Associates, 926 J Street, Suite 617, Sacramento, CA 95814, 916.313.4550, fredm@etr.org, (2) HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Branch, Office of AIDS, California Department of Health Services, 611 North 7th St., P.O. Box 942732, Sacramento, CA 94234-7320, (3) California Department of Health Services, Office of AIDS, 611 North 7th Street, P.O. Box 942732, Sacramento, CA 94234-7320, (4) Baja California Department of Public Health, P.O. Box 5394, Mexicali, Mexico, (5) Division of Community Epidemiology, San Diego County HHSA, 1700 Pacific Highway Room 107, PO Box 85222, San Diego, CA 92186

Objective: To examine, among a cross-section of men who have sex with men from San Diego, California, and Tijuana, Mexico, alcohol use during sex in relation to unprotected insertive and receptive anal intercourse. Methods: Latino men who have sex with men from San Diego (n=125) and Tijuana (n=249) were recruited from gay-identified venues (e.g., bars and cruising sites). In addition to interview data, specimens were collected for HIV-antibody testing. Twenty-four percent tested positive for HIV. Alcohol use during sex within the past 4 months was examined in relation to unprotected insertive and receptive anal intercourse during the past 4 months. A first set of analyses controlled for site; age; HIV serostatus; injection drug use, prostitution, and multiple (2+) male sex partners (each during previous 4 months); history of homelessness, and history of incarceration for over one week. A second set of analyses included measures of methamphetamines, cocaine, and crack use during sex, past 4 months. Results: Alcohol use during sex was independently related to insertive anal (O.R.=2.5; 95% C.I.=1.4,4.4) and receptive anal (O.R.=2.0; 95% C.I.=1.0,4.0) intercourse. In models that included use of methamphetamines, cocaine, and crack during sex, alcohol use during sex was independently associated with insertive anal intercourse with males (O.R.=2.5; 95% C.I.=1.3,4.8), but not associated with receptive anal intercourse (O.R.=1.9; 95% C.I.=0.9,4.2). Conclusion: Alcohol use can withstand multiple controls, including multiple sex partners and stimulant use, to predict unprotected sexual intercourse. Our findings are limited because use of alcohol was not tied to specific acts of intercourse.

Learning Objectives:

• To describe the relationship between excessive alcohol consumption and sexual risk behavior in models with and without measures of stimulant 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.