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Prevalence of HIV Risk Behaviors Between Binge Drinkers and Non-Binge Drinkers Aged 18- to 64-Years in US, 2008

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An Erratum to this article was published on 12 February 2012

Abstract

Using data from the 2008 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System on 281,303 adults aged 18–64 years in the United States, we examined the relationship between HIV risk behaviors and binge drinking of alcoholic beverages and the frequency of binge drinking among a subgroup of 41,073 respondents who were acknowledged binge drinkers (bingers), based on reported drinking behavior in the year preceding survey. Our findings show that the weighted prevalence of HIV risk behaviors (including injection drug use, exchange of sex for money/drugs, and anal sex without a condom) among binge bingers [7.0%, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 6.4–7.6%] is twice that among nonbingers (2.9%, 95% CI: 2.7–3.0%). The highest prevalence of HIV risk behaviors is among the bingers aged 18–20 years (14%, 95% CI: 11.2–18.2%). After adjusting for covariates, bingers are 1.77 (95% CI: 1.58–2.00) times more likely than nonbingers to report HIV risk behaviors. Risk increases in bingers with the number of episodes. Compared with bingers reporting 1–2 binge episodes in the month proceeding survey, the adjusted odds of reporting HIV risk behaviors among bingers are 1.27 (1.08–1.49), 1.68 (1.35–2.10), 1.67 (1.08–2.57), and 1.70 (1.34–2.16), respectively for bingers with 3–4, 5–6, 7–8, and ≥9 episodes in the same period. Our results suggest that HIV risk behaviors are strongly linked with binge drinking and its frequency. Effective measures to prevent binge drinking are essential to HIV prevention, especially among youth aged 18–20 years.

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Acknowledgments

Authors thank the BRFSS coordinators from 50 states and District of Columbia and members of the Survey Operation Team in the Division of Behavioral Surveillance, Public Health Surveillance Program Office (PHSPO), Office of Surveillance, Epidemiology and laboratory Services (OSELS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for their help in collecting the data used in this study. The authors also thank Jane A. Zanca, CDC technical editor, for editing the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd. NE, MS-E46, Atlanta, GA, 30333, USA

    Xiao-Jun Wen

  2. Division of Behavioral Surveillance, Public Health Surveillance Program Office, Office of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, NE K-66, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA

    Lina Balluz & Machell Town

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  1. Xiao-Jun Wen
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  2. Lina Balluz
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Correspondence to Xiao-Jun Wen.

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Disclaimer: The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10900-012-9545-0.

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Wen, XJ., Balluz, L. & Town, M. Prevalence of HIV Risk Behaviors Between Binge Drinkers and Non-Binge Drinkers Aged 18- to 64-Years in US, 2008. J Community Health 37, 72–79 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-011-9418-y

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