title: Alcohol Use and Associated Sexual and Substance Use Behaviors Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Moscow, Russia.
abstract: Alcohol use is a public health problem in the Russian Federation. This study explored relationships between alcohol use and behavioral risks for HIV transmission among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Moscow, Russia. Alcohol use disorder identification test (AUDIT) scores for 1367 MSM participating in a cross-sectional survey and HIV testing were categorized to: "abstinence/low use", "hazardous use", "harmful use/dependency". Multiple logistic regression models compared dependent variables for sexual and drug use behaviors across alcohol use strata. Hazardous and harmful/dependent alcohol use were significantly associated with high-risk sexual behaviors and drug use. Harmful use/dependency was associated with an increased odds of having more than five male sex partners (last 12 months; adjusted odds ratios-AOR 1.69; 95 % CI 1.25-2.27), inconsistent condom use during anal intercourse (AOR 2.19; 95 % CI 1.61-2.96) and, among those using recreational drugs, injection drug use (last month; AOR 4.38: 95 % CI 1.13-17.07) compared to abstinent/low-level users. Harmful/dependent use was marginally associated with HIV infection (AOR 1.48; 95 % CI 0.97-2.25). HIV prevention efforts for MSM in Moscow may benefit from addressing problem alcohol use to mitigate high-risk behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA. awirtz1@jhu.edu.|Department of Epidemiology, Center for Public Health and Human Rights, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA. awirtz1@jhu.edu.
authors.forename: A L
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2063-1534
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Wirtz
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Center for Public Health and Human Rights, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Zelaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Latkin
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stall
authors.affiliation: AIDS Infoshare, Moscow, Russian Federation.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peryshkina
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Center for Public Health and Human Rights, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Galai
authors.affiliation: AIDS Infoshare, Moscow, Russian Federation.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mogilniy
authors.affiliation: AIDS Infoshare, Moscow, Russian Federation.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dzhigun
authors.affiliation: AIDS Infoshare, Moscow, Russian Federation.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kostetskaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Center for Public Health and Human Rights, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beyrer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009031:Moscow / Q000453:epidemiology; D012426:Russia; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012747:Sexual Partners; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alcohol use; HIV; Men who have sex with men; Russian Federation; Sexual behavior