Syndemic factors associated with drinking patterns among Latino men and Latina transgender women who have sex with men in New York City

Abstract

Alcohol consumption is a significant public health concern among Latino men and Latina transgender women who have sex with men. However, characteristics and behaviors associated with alcohol consumption in this population, particularly in regard to the complex influence of syndemic factors, remain understudied. The purpose of this study was to examine predictors of high-risk alcohol consumption (i.e. binge or heavy drinking). Between January and March of 2014, 176 Latino men and Latina transgender women in New York City completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire. We developed a syndemics scale to reflect the total number of syndemic factors – clinically significant depression, childhood sexual abuse, intimate partner violence, and discrimination – reported by each participant. We also carried out a multinomial logistic regression model predicting binge and heavy drinking. Forty-seven percent of participants reported high-risk alcohol consumption in the past 30 days (21% binge and 26% heavy). Approximately 16% of participants reported no syndemic factors, 27% reported one factor, 39% reported two factors, and 18% reported three or four. In the multinomial logistic regression model, our syndemic factors scale was not significantly associated with binge drinking. However, participants who reported three or four factors were significantly more likely to report heavy drinking. In addition, having multiple sexual partners was associated with an increased risk of binge and heavy drinking; involvement in a same-sex relationship was associated with binge drinking. Further work is needed to develop effective prevention intervention approaches for high-risk alcohol consumption within this population.

Child Sexual Abuse and Adult Mental Health, Sexual Risk Behaviors, and Drinking Patterns Among Latino Men Who Have Sex With Men

“…To qualify as heavy drinkers, individuals must engage in at least five sessions of binge drinking over a 30-day period—at least 1–2 times per week, on average. This would be more consistent with alcohol dependency, or the use of alcohol as a coping mechanism (see Martinez et al, 2016). This distinction may also serve to account for some inconsistency in prior research regarding associations, or lack thereof, between CSA and adult drinking patterns among MSM (Mimiaga et al, 2009; Phillips II et al, 2014).…”

The Relationship Between Tobacco Use and Legal Document Gender-Marker Change, Hormone Use, and Gender-Affirming Surgery in a United States Sample of Trans-Feminine and Trans-Masculine Individuals: Implications for Cardiovascular Health

“…2,3 This incongruence can lead to distress known as attempt to quit smoking, offering the possibility for smoking cessation interventions to impact tobacco use in this population. In addition to tobacco use, transgender individuals also experience many other health disparities 2,8 (e.g., depression, 9,10 suicidality, 11 nonsuicidal self-injury, 12 alcohol and drug abuse, 13,14 violence, 15 and sexually transmitted infections 16 ), and many encounter insensitive or discriminatory treatment when attempting to access healthcare, [17][18][19] potentially explaining lower rates of healthcare utilization among transgender individuals. 20 Overall, transgender individuals are more likely than cisgender individuals to rate their health as poor.…”

Sexual and Behavioral Health Disparities Among Sexual Minority Hispanics/Latinos: Findings From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001–2014

“…14–17 Smoking rates in this sample are higher than those documented in prior studies with sexual minorities and the general population. 18,19 Several factors potentially contribute to health disparities among GLB Latinos, including discrimination in care, 20,21 lack of access to appropriate care, 22 language barriers and documentation status, 23,24 and delayed general and HIV care due to stigma. 25,26 …”