Binge drinking and unsafe sex: a study of narcology hospital patients from St. Petersburg, Russia.

Full Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the association between binge alcohol use and unprotected sex in Russian substance users. Participants (N = 181) were narcology hospital patients assessed on demographics, alcohol use, risky sex, and sexually transmitted disease/human immunodeficiency virus (STD/HIV) diagnoses. Adjusted generalized estimating equations (GEEs) logistic regression analysis examined the association between binge drinking and same-day unprotected sex across each of the past 30 days, per participant (N = 5430 observations). Participants were age 18 to 55 years, 75% male, and 64% binge drinking. Sex trade was reported by 27%; history of STDs by 43%; and HIV by 15%. One fourth of daily observations included sex; 88% of these involved unprotected sex. Binge drinking was not associated with same-day unprotected sex (adjusted odds ratio [OR(adj)] = 1.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.7-1.4, chi(2)(1, N = 5219) = 0.01, ns). Findings document substantial HIV/STD risk and prevalence among Russian narcology patients, but no link between binge drinking and unprotected sex in this population, possibly due to very low rates of condom use generally.

Author information

Author/s: Raj, A (A); Cheng, D M (DM); Krupitsky, E M (EM); Levenson, S (S); Egorova, V Y (VY); Meli, S (S); Zvartau, E E (EE); Samet, J H (JH);

Affiliation: Department of Social Behavioral Sciences, Boston University of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA. anitaraj(-atsign-)bu.edu

Grants: K24 AA015674-03 (Agency:NIAAA NIH HHS) ; K24-AA015674 (Agency:NIAAA NIH HHS) ; R21 AA014821-03 (Agency:NIAAA NIH HHS) ; R21-AA014821 (Agency:NIAAA NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Substance abuse : official publication of the Association for Medical Education and Research in Substance Abuse (Subst Abus), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: -2009 Jul-Sep; vol 30 (issue 3) : pp 213-22

Dates: Created 2009/07/10; Completed 2009/10/06; Revised 2009/10/08;

PMID: 19591057, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/9/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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