Association between recreational marijuana use and risky sex behaviors

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between recreational marijuana use and risky sex behaviors among individuals from thirteen HIV prevention and care agencies in Kentucky. Risky sex behaviors were number of sex partners, unsafe oral sex, unsafe vaginal-penile sex, unsafe anal sex, and sex in exchange for money or drugs. Methods: Individuals (n=1221) attending HIV/AIDS service agencies for care, prevention, or both completed an anonymous survey. Bivariate analysis and logistic regression were conducted. Results: Among the study participants, 39.2% had engaged in recreational marijuana use in the past two years. Bivariate analysis found that participants who engaged in recreational marijuana use were 68% (CI: 1.41-2.02) more likely to have unsafe anal sex and 2.2 (CI: 1.54-3.08) times more likely to exchange sex for drugs or money (p<0.05). Logistic regression did not identify recreational marijuana use as a variable associated with any of the five forms of risky sex behavior (p>0.05). Logistic regression found alcohol use, age (39 or younger), HIV status (HIV negative), and HIV status (Unaware of status) statistically significant among four forms of risky sex behavior (p<0.05). Other illicit drug use was found to be statistically significant among all five forms of risky sex behavior (p<0.05). Conclusions: The findings represent evidence that risky sex behaviors are not associated with recreational marijuana use. Instead, interventions designed to reduce risky sex may need to focus on illicit drug use or alcohol use in general.