title: Drinking Patterns and HIV Risk Behaviors Among Black and Latino Men Who Have Sex Within Los Angeles County.
abstract: Alcohol, the most widely used substance among men who have sex with men (85%), remains an important factor in HIV research among this high-risk population. However, research on alcohol use among Black and Latino men who have sex with men (BLMSM), a population disproportionately affected by HIV in the United States, is limited and inconclusive. This study explored sociodemographic and HIV risk with daily heavy and low-risk drinking patterns among BLMSM. BLMSM ( N = 188) aged 18 to 40 years were recruited through social media, local colleges, heteronormative clubs, private men's groups, gay establishments, and organized events in Los Angeles County. Participants completed self-administered questionnaires. Fisher's exact tests revealed significant relationships between drinking patterns and condomless insertive anal intercourse ( p = .001), race ( p < .001), age ( p = .02), and perception of alcohol-related HIV risk ( p = .007). The Fisher's exact tests findings for age held true in the multiple regression model ( p = .014). Findings suggest that BLMSM who engage in higher risk drinking also engage in alcohol-related HIV risk. Culturally competent interventions should consider including a combined focus to explore the synergy between risky drinking patterns and HIV risk among BLMSM.
authors.affiliation: 1 California State University, Long Beach, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Washington
authors.affiliation: 1 California State University, Long Beach, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Shivan N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: 1 California State University, Long Beach, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Meyer-Adams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: alcohol use; gay health issues; men of color; risk behaviors; sexual health