title: The association between alcohol use and sexual risk behaviors among African American women across three developmental periods: a review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  African American women experience increased rates of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. The use of alcohol may increase sexual risk behaviors among this population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This paper provides a review and critique of the literature examining the association between alcohol use and sexual risk behaviors among African American females including a: (a) synthesis of research findings from adolescent, college-aged/early adulthood, and adult samples; (b) methodological critique of the literature; and (c) guidance for future research.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed 32 studies examining the association between alcohol use and sexual risk behaviors among African American females across developmental periods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Similar to previous association studies, results suggest that increased use of alcohol is associated with increased sexual risk practices among African American females. Further, even non-abuse levels of drinking among African American females, at all ages, were related to increased sexual risk-taking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Future studies should seek to recruit samples that more fully reflect the diversity of African American women's experiences across the lifespan. Given the association between alcohol use and/or abuse and the prevalence of STI/HIV-associated risk behaviors and adverse biological outcomes (i.e., STIs, including HIV) among African American females across the lifespan, there is a clear need to develop and evaluate prevention research efforts tailored for this subgroup.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA. jmcderm@emory.edu
authors.forename: Jessica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sales
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Aaron T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Vissman
authors.forename: Ralph J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: DiClemente
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000187:drug effects*; D016387:Women's Health