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

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 approximately 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.