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Alcohol consumption influenced unsafe sex practice
Rehm J. Addiction. 2012;107:51-59.
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Researchers observed a significant positive association between blood–alcohol level and unsafe sex. Therefore, they suggest for alcohol consumption to be included in prevention efforts for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
In a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, a team of researchers led by Jürgen Rehm, PhD, of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, set out to assess the association between blood–alcohol level and the likelihood of using a condom during intercourse.
The likelihood of engaging in unprotected sex increased by 5% among those with a blood–alcohol level of 0.1 mg/mL (95% CI, 2.8-7.1). The researchers said as the level of alcohol intake increased, the likelihood of engaging in unprotected sex also increased.
“This result also helps explain why people at risk often show this behavior despite better knowledge: Alcohol is influencing their decision processes,” Rehm said in a press release.
According to the researchers: “As alcohol affects detrimentally both the innate and acquired immune system, many indications point toward an important role of alcohol in the incidence of HIV and other STIs. Given the high prevalence of alcohol consumption around the world, these findings have potential public health implications. … Studies varying alcohol consumption experimentally using proven effective interventions in at-risk groups with later measurement of incidence of HIV and STIs would be advisable.”
Disclosure: This research was funded by the National Institute for Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) with contract No. HHSN267200700041C.
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