The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #42409

Assunta Ritieni, MHS, Juan D. Ruiz, MD, DrPH, and Matthew R Facer, PhD. HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Branch, Office of AIDS, California Department of Health Services, 611 North 7th St., Suite A, Sacramento, CA 95814, 916-322-1618, aritieni@dhs.ca.gov

Objectives: To estimate prevalence of recent drug use prior to sex and assess its influence on sexual behavior among young Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) in Tijuana, Mexico and San Diego, California. Methods: In each city, Latino MSM 18-29 years old were recruited from gay-identified venues. Participants were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire exploring recent (<=4 months) drug and sexual behavior. We compare drug use prior to sex across samples (Tijuana N=249, San Diego N=125) and examine its relationship to sexual behavior among the total sample. Results: Over 30% at each site reported recently having sex while under the influence of alcohol. The Tijuana sample reported significantly higher rates (p<0.05) than San Diego of recently having sex while under the influence of marijuana, heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and downers/barbiturates (13%-27% for Tijuana, under 10% for San Diego for each drug). Insertive unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) with another male was associated with alcohol and crack use (OR=2.67, 95% CI: 1.67-4.26; OR=2.05; CI: 1.02-4.10), while no drugs were associated with recent receptive UAI. Alcohol was associated with recent unprotected vaginal intercourse (OR=1.86; CI: 1.15-2.98), as was marijuana (OR=2.49; CI: 1.45-4.28), methamphetamine (OR=4.31; CI: 2.18-8.64), and crack (OR=5.38; CI: 2.58-11.31). These were also associated with recent UAI with a female. Conclusion: Among Latino MSM, specific drugs used prior to sex have a greater impact than others on condom use and particularly affect condom use with female partners.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to

• Describe, for each study population, the percentage of individuals who have been under the influence of certain drugs while having sex in the past four months.
• Describe which population is more likely to use which drugs more often prior to sex.
• Describe the relationship of certain drugs with several unprotected sexual behaviors.

Keywords: Latino, HIV Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.