The association of socioeconomic status and use of crack/cocaine with unprotected anal sex in a cohort of men who have sex with men in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
de Souza, C.Teresa.Vieira.; Diaz, T.; Sutmoller, F.; Bastos, F.Inácio.
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 29(1): 95-100
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 1525-4135 PMID: 11782596 DOI: 10.1097/00042560-200201010-00013Document Number: 242175
To evaluate the relation between illicit drug use, sexual practices, and socioeconomic status, we analysed data from the baseline interview of a cohort of 675 men who have sex with men conducted from 1994 to 1999 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Bivariate analyses of factors associated with crack/cocaine use with sex revealed that men who reported crack/cocaine use were significantly (P<.05) more likely than men who did not report drug use to be unemployed (42.7% vs. 29.1%), to have an income of <$250 per month (70.7% vs. 60.9%), to have <8 years of education (69.5% vs. 50.9%), to report bisexual activity (81.7% vs. 41.7%), and to engage in commercial sex (72.0% vs. 37.9%). Multivariate analysis of factors associated with unprotected anal sex with casual male partners in the last 6 months demonstrated that the following variables were associated with this outcome: an income <$250 per month (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=1.73, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04-2.87), less than 8 years of education (AOR=2.21, CI: 1.38-3.53), a greater sense of vulnerability (AOR=2.58, CI: 1.54-4.33), a willingness to participate in vaccine trials (AOR=1.91, CI: 1.20-3.05), and use of crack/cocaine (AOR=1.91, CI: 1.05-3.46). Our findings suggest that HIV prevention programmes for these men need to address drug use and how drug use may influence sexual behaviours.