178550
Alcohol, risky sexual behavior, and sexually transmitted diseases in an African American adolescent female population
Jessica Sales, PhD
,
Rollins School of Public Health Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Ralph DiClemente, PhD
,
Rollins School of Public Health and Center for AIDS Research, Emory Univeristy, Atlanta, GA
Gina M. Wingood, ScD, MPH
,
Rollins School of Public Health Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Eve Rose, MSPH
,
Rollins School of Public Health Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Colleen P. Crittenden Murray, DrPH
,
Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA
Background: Alcohol use may impair sexual decision-making leading to unprotected sexual intercourse. While adolescent African American females remain a high-risk group for STDs, little research has examined alcohol consumption and sexual behavior in this population. Thus, we explored the relationship between alcohol use and psychosocial correlates of risk, risky sexual behavior, and laboratory-confirmed STD acquisition. Methods: Data were collected via ACASI from 407 sexually active African American female adolescents (16-20 years) seeking services at an urban health department. Alcohol use, psychosocial correlates of risk, and self-reported sexual behavior were collected. Self-collected vaginal swab specimens were collected to assess the prevalence of three STDs and a nondisease marker of unprotected sex (Yc PCR). Results: Alcohol use was significantly related to three of four psychosocial correlates and to five self-report measures of risky sexual behavior. Additionally, females consuming more drinks on a drinking occasion were significantly more likely to have Chlamydia and a positive test for the presence of semen in vaginal fluid. When controlling for alcohol consumption, sexual sensation seeking remained a significant predictor of several sexual risk behaviors. Conclusion: Results suggest greater frequency and volume of alcohol consumption is related to adverse psychosocial correlates, self-report measures, and biological markers of risky sexual behavior. Amount of drinking per drinking occasion appears to be the most important predictor of the two biological markers indicating that binge drinking may be an important factor influencing risk of disease for this population. Implications for HIV interventions with this population are discussed.
Learning Objectives: Learning objectives:
•Explore associations between alcohol consumption and risky sexual behaviors in an African American adolescent female sample.
•Examine the association between alcohol consumption and STDs in an African American adolescent female sample.
•Discussion implications for HIV interventions with alcohol using adolescent populations.
Keywords: Alcohol Use, STD
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Assistant Professor in Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, and my primary research focus pertains to adolescent sexual behavior and adolescent risk-reduction interventions
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
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