Abstract
Effective sexual risk reduction strategies for HIV-infected individuals require an understanding of alcohol’s influence on
specific sexual behaviors. We conducted audio-computer-assisted-self-interviews on 910 patients from two HIV primary care
programs. The association between alcohol use and risky sexual behaviors was examined using multivariable logistic regression
adjusting for age, education, race/ethnicity and drug use. Frequent/binge drinking was associated with engaging in anal sex
and having multiple sex partners among women, engaging in insertive anal sex among gay/bisexual men, and was unrelated to
risky sexual behaviors among heterosexual men. Infrequent drinkers did not differ in sexual risk behaviors from abstainers
among women or men. Finally, there was no interaction effect between race/ethnicity and alcohol use on the association with
sexual risk behaviors. The study has yielded important new findings in several key areas with high relevance to HIV care.
Results underscore the importance of routinely screening for alcohol use and risky sexual behaviors in HIV primary care.
specific sexual behaviors. We conducted audio-computer-assisted-self-interviews on 910 patients from two HIV primary care
programs. The association between alcohol use and risky sexual behaviors was examined using multivariable logistic regression
adjusting for age, education, race/ethnicity and drug use. Frequent/binge drinking was associated with engaging in anal sex
and having multiple sex partners among women, engaging in insertive anal sex among gay/bisexual men, and was unrelated to
risky sexual behaviors among heterosexual men. Infrequent drinkers did not differ in sexual risk behaviors from abstainers
among women or men. Finally, there was no interaction effect between race/ethnicity and alcohol use on the association with
sexual risk behaviors. The study has yielded important new findings in several key areas with high relevance to HIV care.
Results underscore the importance of routinely screening for alcohol use and risky sexual behaviors in HIV primary care.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s10461-012-0191-4
- Authors
- Heidi E. Hutton, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Mary E. McCaul, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Geetanjali Chander, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Mollie W. Jenckes, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Christine Nollen, Center for Comprehensive Care, HIV Center St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Victoria L. Sharp, Center for Comprehensive Care, HIV Center St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Emily J. Erbelding, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Journal AIDS and Behavior
- Online ISSN 1573-3254
- Print ISSN 1090-7165