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Examining the Sexual Health Consequences of Alcohol Consumption Among Black Gay and Bisexual Men
Author(s) -
Allen Vincent C.,
Ray Lara A.,
Myers Hector F.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/acer.13795
Subject(s) - condom , demography , medicine , men who have sex with men , psychology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , syphilis , sociology , family medicine
Background Black men who have sex with men ( MSM ) are disproportionately affected by HIV infection. Efforts are needed to understand correlates of HIV risk among this group. Alcohol consumption may have a role in HIV transmission given its association with condomless sex. This study aimed to examine the association between alcohol consumption (i.e., drinking before/during sex and levels of alcohol use problems) and condom use during lifetime, past 6 months, and the event (i.e., a specific sexual episode) level. Methods Black MSM ( N = 102) reported sexual behavior and condom use for lifetime, past 6 months, and the most recent condom and condomless sex events. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test ( AUDIT ) determined alcohol use problems. Results Ordinal and binary regression analyses analyzed associations between AUDIT scores and condomless sex (receptive and insertive). AUDIT scores were associated with a greater likelihood of condomless sex (lifetime receptive sex: OR = 1.06, p < 0.05; past 6 months insertive sex: odds ratio [OR] = 1.09, p < 0.01). At the event level, there was no greater likelihood of drinking during last condomless sex as compared to last condom sex, χ 2 (1) = 0.18, p = 0.39. Conclusions There was evidence that an increase in alcohol use problems was associated with a greater likelihood of risky sexual behavior. Drinking before/during sex was not related to condom use. These findings contribute to understanding the nuanced relationship between alcohol use and sexual risk.