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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Ligia R. S. Kerr-Pontes¹, João M. M. Silva¹, David Wypij², Marcia T. Machado, MPH, PhD³, Rogério C. Gondim¹, Carl Kendall⁴, and Florence Kerr-Corrêa⁵. (1) Community Health Department, Federal University of Ceará, Rua Prof Costa Mendes, 1608 - 5o. andar - Rodolfo Teófilo - Ceará, Fortaleza, 60190-080, Brazil, 55-85-9988-8866, ligia@fortalnet.com.br, (2) Department of Biostatistics, Harvard Shool of Public Health, 655 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, (3) Department of Community Health, Federal University of Ceara, Avenida Antonio Justa , 3161, Fortaleza, Ceara, 73695, Brazil, (4) Department of International Health and Development, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal St., New Orleans, LA 70112, (5) Neurology and psychiatry Department, Medical School of Botucatu, Distrito de Rubião Júnior, S/N, Botucatu, 18618970, Brazil

Background: Binge drinking – defined as five or more drinks in a single session - has been associated with multiple partners and other risk behavior for HIV infection among MSM. Methods: Men who reported oral or anal sex during the past 6 months from Fortaleza (400), Sobral (100) e região do Cariri - Juazeiro do Norte, Barbalha ou Crato (100) were interviewed. Consumption of alcohol, illicit drugs and sexual behavior were recorded using a questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify predictors for being binge drinking. Results: We found 63% of the MSM reporting behavior classified as binge drinking. This result is much higher than one found in similar studies in America. As the amount of alcohol consumption increases the use of other licit or illicit drugs increases as well. Using any other drug (OR=2,3; 95%CI: 1,8-2,9); getting older (21 to 30 years – OR=1,5; 95%CI: 1,1-2,9; 30 years or older – OR=1,6; 95%CI: 1,2-2,3) (the oldest man was 55), being black (OR=5,9; 95%CI: 1,7-20,1) or mullato (OR=1,8; 95%CI: 1,3-2,6), being a member of a family that disapproves his sexual orientation (OR=1,4; 95%CI: 1,1-1,9), taking an HIV test (OR=1,7; 95%CI: 1,3-2,2), and having received money, gifts or favors for sex (OR=2,0; 95%CI: 1,4-3,0) were found to be associated with binge drinking. Conclusion: Since most of the places where MSM find partners offer alcohol, patterns of binge drinking become important for understanding risky behavior and HIV transmission. Prevention programs addressed to this population need to take this into account.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the alcohol use among MSM;
• Identify predictor variables related to being a binge drinker among MSM

Keywords: Alcohol Use, Male Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered