A cross-sectional study examining associations between substance use frequency, problematic use and STIs among youth living with HIV

Gamarel, Kristi E.; Nichols, Sharon L.; Kahler, Christopher W.; Westfall, Andrew O.; Lally, Michelle; Wilson, Craig M.

doi:10.1136/sextrans-2017-053334

Cited by 16 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 28 publications

(17 reference statements)

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“…In our study, current cannabis users were 32% more likely to self-report STIs in the last 12 months compared with never users. Our findings are consistent with those reported in previous studies 25–28. There are different possible explanations for our results.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…Other studies contradict our finding and provide evidence that show alcohol use to be associated with STIs 24–28. However, these studies used different target populations including street youth,24 youth living with HIV,25 African American youth,26,27 and Aboriginal youth 28. The differences in the demographics of these study populations suggest that post-secondary students are a distinct group and the findings from other vulnerable populations of similar age may not be generalizable to them.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 87%

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Substance use preferences and sexually transmitted infections among Canadian post-secondary students

Soe¹,

Bird²,

Schwandt³

et al. 2018

PPA

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BackgroundIn Canada, substance use is one of the key predisposing factors that may lead to risky sexual behaviors among post-secondary students. There is considerable economic burden and significant public health concern posed by substance use and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of substance use preferences (alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs) and its association with STIs among Canadian post-secondary students.Materials and methodsThis is a cross-sectional study using data from the National College Health Assessment II, Spring 2016 survey conducted by the American College Health Association. There were 31,642 sexually active participants, representing 41 post-secondary institutions in Canada. Descriptive analysis and logistic regression were conducted to estimate the effect of substance use preferences on STIs.ResultsThis study found that participants reported being current users of alcohol (80%), cannabis (23%), and other drugs (8%). Additionally, 3.96% of the participants self-reported being diagnosed or treated for an STI in the last 12 months. Multivariate logistic analysis revealed current cannabis use to be significantly associated with self-reported STIs (aOR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.12–1.6). There was a significant association between current drug use and STIs among male (aOR, 3.04; 95% CI, 2.27–4.06) and female participants (aOR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.52–2.30). Having multiple sexual partners, a history of sexual assault, being homosexual, Black, and >21 years old were also found to have a significant association with self-reported STIs (P-value <0.001).ConclusionIn this study, significant associations were found between cannabis and other drug use and STIs among post-secondary students in Canada. The results of this study can help inform institutions of higher learning and public health professionals in the design, implementation, and evaluation of substance use and STI policies and effective school-based health programming.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 87%

Substance use preferences and sexually transmitted infections among Canadian post-secondary students

Soe¹,

Bird²,

Schwandt³

et al. 2018

PPA

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In fact, the use of condoms during sexual intercourse is not a regular practice and the consumption of alcohol is high in this population. These behaviors have encouraged the spread of STIs [ 1 , 29 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiology of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B and C among manual cane cutters in low-income regions of Brazil

et al. 2018

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BackgroundIn recent decades the epidemic of asymptomatic sexually transmitted infections has extended deep into Brazil, including small towns and rural areas. The purpose of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C viruses (HCV), and to evaluate immunization coverage against hepatitis B in a group of rural workers in Brazil.MethodsIn 2016, a cross-sectional study was conducted with 937 manual sugarcane cutters of the Midwest and Northeast Regions of Brazil. All individuals were interviewed and screened for HIV, syphilis, HBV and HCV. Correlating factors with lifetime HBV infection were investigated using logistic regression. Positive Predictive Values, Negative Predictive Values, sensitivity and specificity were also calculated relative to vaccination against Hepatitis B, comparing anti-HBs titers to vaccination reports.ResultsMost reported previous hospitalization (55%), occupational injuries (54%), sharing of personal items (45.8%), alcohol consumption (77.2%), multiple sexual partners in previous 12 months (39.8%), and no condom use during sexual intercourse in last 12 months (46.5%). Only 0.2% reported using injection drugs. Anti-HIV-1 was detected in three individuals (0.3%). Serological markers of lifetime syphilis (treponemal test) were detected in 2.5% (95% CI: 1.6–3.6) of participants, and active syphilis (treponemal test and VDRL) present in 1.2%. No samples were positive for anti-HCV. The prevalence of lifetime HBV infection (current or past infection) was 15.9%, and 0.7% (95% CI 0.4 to 1.5) were HBsAg-positive. Previous hospitalization (OR 1.53, CI 1.05–2.24, p < 0.01) and multiple sexual partners in the last 12 months (OR 1.80, CI 1.25–2.60, p < 0.01) were predictors for lifetime HBV infection. Although 46.7% (95% CI 43.4–49.9) of individuals reported having been vaccinated against hepatitis B, only 20.6% (95% CI 18.1–23.3) showed serological evidence of previous hepatitis B vaccination (positive for anti-HBs alone).ConclusionsThe high prevalence of syphilis and HBV compared to the general population and the high frequency of risk behaviors show the potential for sexual and parenteral dissemination of these agents in this rural population. In addition, the low frequency of hepatitis B vaccinated individuals suggests a need for improved vaccination services.

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“…Outcomes.-Participants reported on three substance use behaviors in the past 3 months from the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST), which has been used in studies of YLWH (Gamarel et al, 2016;Gamarel et al, 2017). First, participants answered the question: "How often did you have 5 or more drinks of alcohol in one day (including the evening) in the past 3 months?"…”

Section: Substance Usementioning

confidence: 99%

The moderating role of resilience resources in the association between crime exposure and substance use among young sexual minority men

Gamarel

Nelson

Heinze

et al. 2019

Substance Use & Misuse

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Objectives: Substance use is prevalent among young sexual minority men and crime exposure is linked with adverse health behaviors. Guided by the protective model of resilience, we examined the impact of being a crime victim and resilience resources on substance use behaviors, and whether resilience moderated associations between crime exposure and substance use behaviors. Methods: A cross-sectional sample of young sexual minority men (n=720) ages 15 to 24 participated in a one-time survey conducted in seven cities across the United States. Participants' mean age was 21.2 years; 50% self-identified as Black, and 66% self-identified as gay. Participants self-reported on sociodemographic factors, crime exposure, resilience resources, and substance use behaviors. We fit generalized estimating models to examine associations between crime exposure, resilience resources, and the interaction between crime exposure and resilience resources on substance use behaviors. Results: Overall, 31% reported heavy alcohol use, 54% monthly marijuana use, 14% drug use, and 26% reported being a victim of a crime. Crime exposure was associated with an increased odds of alcohol (AOR=1.45, 95%CI: 1.02, 2.14), marijuana (AOR=1.41, 95%CI: 1.07, 2.04), and drug use (AOR=1.94, 95%CI: 1.14, 2.98). Resilience resources were associated with a reduced odds of alcohol use (AOR=0.66, 95%CI: 0.47, 0.93), marijuana use (AOR=0.82, 95%CI: 0.60, 0.98), and drug use (AOR=0.85, 95%CI: 0.54, 0.96). There was a significant interaction such that resilience resources reduced associations between crime exposure and alcohol and drug use.

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A cross-sectional study examining associations between substance use frequency, problematic use and STIs among youth living with HIV

Cited by 16 publications

References 28 publications

Substance use preferences and sexually transmitted infections among Canadian post-secondary students

Substance use preferences and sexually transmitted infections among Canadian post-secondary students

Epidemiology of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B and C among manual cane cutters in low-income regions of Brazil

The moderating role of resilience resources in the association between crime exposure and substance use among young sexual minority men

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