Bars and nightclubs associated with higher HIV prevalence.
BACKGROUND
Alcohol outlet density is positively associated with alcohol consumption and a number of related risk behaviors. However, very little is known about the effects of different types of alcohol outlets on HIV prevalence. The current cross-sectional study examines associations between the number of each type of alcohol outlet and HIV prevalence within 350 cities located in 26 U.S. metropolitan statistical areas.


METHODS
State and local health department and U.S. Census Bureau surveillance data were analyzed from 1056 ZIP codes, where an estimated 39 million people reside. Multilevel negative binomial regression models were used to examine the association between the number of each type of alcohol outlet in ZIP codes and HIV prevalence.


RESULTS
Number of on-premise alcohol outlets within a ZIP code was associated with greater HIV prevalence. In this sample, the presence of one additional on-premise outlet in a ZIP code was associated with a 1.5% increase in the HIV prevalence rate in that location.


CONCLUSIONS
This study extends previous research by examining the relationship between alcohol outlets and HIV prevalence in a large sample of U.S. ZIP codes. Research is needed to more closely examine the mechanisms by which on-premise alcohol outlets may affect HIV transmission. Effective policies to reduce HIV transmission may include limiting the density of on-premise alcohol establishments.
Department of Global and Community Health, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States. Electronic address: mrosshei@gmu.edu.
Matthew E
ME
Rossheim
Department of Behavioral and Community Health, The University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health, Fort Worth, TX, United States.
Dennis L
DL
Thombs
Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, The University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health, Fort Worth, TX, United States.
Sumihiro
S
Suzuki
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002947:Cities / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D012147:Restaurants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
Human Immunodeficiency Virus; On-premise alcohol outlets