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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

William A. Zule, DrPH¹, Elizabeth Costenbader, PhD², and Curtis Coomes, JD². (1) Substance Abuse Treatment Interventions and Evaluations, RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Road, PO Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194, 919-485-2797, zule@rti.org, (2) Behavioral Health Research Division, RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Rd., P.O. Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194

Background: Methamphetamine has been associated with high-risk sexual behavior among men who have sex with men (MSM). This presentation will examine its effects on HIV risk in heterosexual encounters, which have been understudied. Method: Data were collected from out-of-treatment injecting drug users (IDUs) in central North Carolina. To date, 838 baseline, 399 six-month, and 262 12-month follow-up interviews—have been completed. Participants were asked about their last sexual encounter at each interview. Analyses were performed to examine associations between methamphetamine and heterosexual anal intercourse at the event level, while adjusting for within subject correlations and individual and event level covariates. Results: Methamphetamine was used in 8% of encounters and 8% of encounters involved anal intercourse. Seventeen percent of encounters in which methamphetamine was used involved both vaginal and anal intercourse compared with 5% of encounters in which it was not used (p<0.001). Methamphetamine was a significant predictor of anal intercourse in models that adjusted for respondent's age, race, sexual orientation, partner characteristics and characteristics of the encounter including use of other drugs. Conclusions: Methamphetamine use was associated with encounters involving more types of sex in general and heterosexual anal intercourse in particular. Few HIV or other STD counseling interventions specifically address issues such as condom use during sexual encounters that involve multiple types of sex within the same encounter. However, such events may make it more difficult to use condoms correctly throughout the encounter. Additional research is needed to understand the associations between methamphetamine use and high risk heterosexual behavior.

Learning Objectives: Following this presentation, participants will be able to

• Describe the impact of methamphetamine on HIV risk in heterosexual encounters.
• Recognize additonal HIV risks associated with heterosexual encounters that involve multilple types of sex.
• Discuss the implications of methamphetamine use for risk reduction counseling among heterosexuals.

Keywords: Substance Abuse, HIV Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation