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Relationship Between Alcohol Consumption Prior to Sex, Unprotected Sex and Prevalence of STI/HIV Among Socially Marginalized Men in Three Coastal Cities of Peru

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Abstract

This article presents data about the relationship between alcohol consumption prior to sex and unprotected sex and the prevalence of at least one sexually transmitted infection (STI) including HIV among socially marginalized men in three coastal Peruvians cities. During an epidemiological survey with 2,146 men, we assessed their STI prevalence, frequency of alcohol consumption prior to sex, unprotected sex and other sexual risk behaviors. The overall prevalence of at least one STI/HIV was 8.5 % (95 % CI 7.3–9.7), the prevalence of unprotected sex was 79.1 % (95 % CI 77.8–80.3) and alcohol consumption prior to sex with any of the last five sex partners in the previous 6 months was 68.9 % (95 % CI 66.9–70.9). Bivariate and multivariate analysis showed that alcohol consumption of participants or their partners prior to sex were associated with the prevalence of at least one STI, adjusted Prevalence Ratio (aPR) = 1.3 (95 % CI 1.01–1.68). Unprotected sex was significantly associated with alcohol consumption prior to sex when both partners used alcohol, aPR = 1.15 (95 % CI 1.10–1.20) or when either one of them used alcohol aPR = 1.14 (95 % CI 1.09–1.18). These findings concur with previous literature suggesting a relationship between alcohol consumption prior to sex and STI and HIV. These data improve our understanding of this relationship in this context and could be used to enhance STI and HIV prevention strategies for socially marginalized men in Peru.

Resumen

Este artículo presenta datos de la relación entre el consumo de alcohol previo al sexo, el sexo no protegido y la prevalencia de al menos una infección de transmisión sexual (ITS) y VIH en hombres socialmente marginados de tres ciudades de la costa Peruana. En un estudio epidemiológico en 2,146 hombres, medimos las prevalencias de ITSs, la frecuencia de consumo de alcohol previo al sexo, frecuencia sexo no protegido y otras conductas sexuales de riesgo. La prevalencia total de al menos una ITS/VIH fue 8.5 % (IC 95 % 7.3–9.7), la prevalencia de sexo no protegido fue 79.1 % (CI 95 % 77.8–80.3) y el consumo de alcohol previo al sexo con al menos una de sus últimas cinco parejas en los últimos 6 meses fue 68.9 % (CI 95 % 66.9–70.9). El análisis bivariado y multivariado mostró que el consumo de alcohol de los participantes o sus parejas previo al sexo fue muy similar y asociado con la prevalencia de al menos una ITS/VIH, Razon de Prevalencia ajustado (RPa) = 1.3 (CI 95 % 1.01–1.68). El sexo no protegido estuvo asociado significativamente con el consumo de alcohol previo al sexo cuando ambos consumieron alcohol, RPa = 1.15 (95 % CI 1.10–1.20) o cuando al menos uno de ellos consumió alcohol, RPa = 1.14 (CI 95 % 1.09–1.18). Estos hallazgos concuerdan con previas publicaciones que sugieren una relación entre el consumo de alcohol previo al sexo e ITSs y VIH. Estos datos mejoran nuestra comprensión de esta relación en este contexto y podría ser utilizada para mejorar las estrategias de prevención para ITSs y VIH en hombres socialmente marginados del Perú.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by NIH/NIMH grant number U10 MH61536 which is a 5-country Cooperative Agreement being conducted in China, India, Peru, Russia, and Zimbabwe. Each site has selected a different venue and population with which to implement the prevention program entitled Community Public Opinion Leader (C-POL) Intervention.

Disclaimer

The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily the official policy or position of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense, nor the US Government. This work was funded by the US National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and conducted following Institutional Review Board approval by NAMRU-6, UCLA, UCSF and UPCH in compliance with all applicable US and Peruvian regulations governing research with human subjects. The authors include military service members or employees of the US Government. This work was prepared as part of their official duties. Title 17 USC §105 provides that “Copyright protection under this title is not available for any work of the United States Government”. Title 17 USC §101 defines a US Government work as a work prepared by a military member or employee of the US Government as part of that person’s official duties. This article was partially prepared as part of the activities of the Masters in Clinical epidemiology with mention in quantitative methods offered jointly by the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH) and NAMRU-6, Peru. This program is part of the grant 2D43 TW007393 “Peru Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Research Training Consortium”, sponsored by the Fogarty International Center of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH/FIC). The author is thankful for the support and guidance received from the faculty and fellow students of the program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Health, Sexuality and Human Development, Cayetano Heredia Peruvian University, Lima, Peru

    Jorge L. Maguiña, Segundo R. Leon & Carlos F. Caceres

  2. David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Kelika A. Konda, Jesse L. Clark, Jeffrey D. Klausner & Tom J. Coates

  3. Department of Parasitology, US Naval Medical Research Unit 6, Lima, Peru

    Jorge L. Maguiña & Andrés G. Lescano

  4. Naval Medical Research Center, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Eric R. Hall

  5. Sexual Health Laboratory, Research and Development Laboratory, Cayetano Heredia Peruvian University, Lima, Peru

    Segundo R. Leon & Carlos F. Caceres

  6. Post-graduate School, Cayetano Heredia Peruvian University, Lima, Peru

    Jorge L. Maguiña

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  1. Jorge L. Maguiña
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Correspondence to Jorge L. Maguiña or Kelika A. Konda.

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Maguiña, J.L., Konda, K.A., Leon, S.R. et al. Relationship Between Alcohol Consumption Prior to Sex, Unprotected Sex and Prevalence of STI/HIV Among Socially Marginalized Men in Three Coastal Cities of Peru. AIDS Behav 17, 1724–1733 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-012-0310-2

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