Co-occurrence of intoxication during sex and sexually transmissible infections among young African American women: does partner intoxication matter?

Abstract

Background: The co-occurrence of a behaviour (being intoxicated on alcohol/drugs during sex) with a disease outcome [laboratory-confirmed sexually transmissible infection (STI) prevalence] among young African American women and their male sex partners was studied. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Recruitment and data collection occurred in three clinics located in a metropolitan city of the Southern USA. A total of 715 African American adolescent females (15–21 years old) were enrolled (82% participation rate). The primary outcome measure was the analysis of self-collected vaginal swabs using nucleic acid amplification assays for Trichomonas vaginalis, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Results: After controlling for age and self-efficacy to negotiate condom use, young women’s alcohol/drug use while having sex was not significantly associated with STI prevalence [adjusted odds ratios (AOR) = 1.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.90–1.83]. However, using the same covariates, the association between male partners’ alcohol/drug use and sexually transmitted disease prevalence was significant (AOR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.03–2.02). Young women reporting that their sex partners had been drunk or high while having sex (at least once in the past 60 days) were ~1.4 times more likely to test positive for at least one of the three assessed STIs. Conclusion: Young African American women reporting a male sex partner had been intoxicated during sex were significantly more likely to have an STI. The nature of this phenomenon could be a consequence of women’s selection of risky partners and lack of condom use possibly stemming from their intoxication or their partners’ intoxication.