Alcohol and condom use: a meta-analysis of event-level studies.
BACKGROUND
Although it is often assumed that drinking alcohol interferes with condom use, studies on this topic have used several different methods and have yielded inconsistent findings. By examining drinking and condom use in specific sexual encounters, the role of alcohol in influencing unprotected intercourse is targeted.


OBJECTIVE
The goal of the study was to assess the relationship of alcohol use and condom use in discrete sexual encounters using meta-analysis.


METHODS
Studies in the literature were identified by computerized searches of MEDLINE and PsycINFO and hand searches of reference lists. Summary odds ratios were calculated for all analyses and for subgroups formed according to type of sexual encounter (first, most recent, most recent with a new sexual partner).


RESULTS
The association of alcohol use and condom use varied by type of sexual encounter: drinking at first intercourse was associated with decreased condom use (odds ratio [OR], 0.54; 95% CI, 0.44-0.66), but drinking was unrelated to condom use in recent sexual encounters (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.89-1.21) and in recent encounters with new partners (OR, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.92-1.32).


CONCLUSIONS
Drinking is not necessarily linked to unprotected intercourse; the relationship between alcohol use and unprotected sex depends on context and sexual experience of the partners.
Leigh
Barbara C
BC
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98105, USA. ligh@u.washington.edu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D002648:Child; D003075:Coitus; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D021841:Safe Sex