Binge drinking -- or the consumption of five or more alcoholic beverages on one occasion -- may be contributing to an increased risk of HIV among men who have sex with men in New York City, according to a study released Monday by the city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the New York Times' "City Room" reports. For the study, titled "Alcohol Use and Risky Sex in New York City," the city's health department used data from its 2007 Community Health Survey and the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance project (Chan, "City Room," New York Times, 1/5).
According to the study, 24% of MSM in New York reported engaging in binge drinking at least once monthly, compared with a rate of 15% among the city's total adult population (Bindrim, Crain's New York Business, 1/5). The study found that binge drinkers were 50% more likely than non-binge drinkers -- and three times more likely than non-drinkers -- to report having two to four sexual partners in the previous year. In addition, 40% of MSM who engaged in binge drinking reported having five or more sexual partners in the past year, compared with 21% of non-binge drinking MSM. The report also used data from the surveillance study, which is based on interviews with MSM at gay bars and is not necessarily "representative of the gay population as a whole," according to the "City Room." This data indicate that 27% of MSM who had casual partners reported being under the influence of alcohol during their last sexual encounter, and 12% reported being under the influence of both alcohol and drugs. In addition, 48% of MSM who reported having 20 or more sexual partners in the past year reported being under the influence of alcohol during their last sexual encounter. The study also found that 65% of MSM who consumed alcohol were likely to use a condom during receptive anal intercourse, while 86% of non-drinking MSM were likely to use a condom during receptive anal sex.
Thomas Frieden, New York City's health commissioner, said, "Heavy drinkers are more likely to have multiple partners -- increasing their risk of HIV, [STIs] and unplanned pregnancy." According to Frieden, the prevalence of HIV and syphilis is rising among MSM in New York City ("City Room," New York Times, 1/5). Frieden added, "Many New Yorkers recognize that drinking increases the risk of injuries and auto accidents, but they may not recognize these other risks." Sean Cahill -- managing director of public policy, research and community health at Gay Men's Health Crisis -- said there is a "wide body of evidence" that consuming alcohol can lead to "lowered inhibitions and impaired judgment." He added that "people forget" that a "legal substance" such as alcohol can lead to an increased risk of HIV. According to Cahill, addressing binge drinking among MSM in New York City might prove difficult, because "gay bars are a site of social interaction and a site of community" among many MSM in the city.
The study also reported on binge drinking among teenagers and found that more than 25% of teens who drank alcohol in the last month reported having multiple sexual partners, compared with 11% of teens who did not drink. In addition, 60% of teens reported using condoms during sex while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, compared with 72% of teens not under the influence. About 14% of teens reported binge drinking during the past month (Crain's New York Business, 1/5).
Showing posts with label New York. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New York. Show all posts
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Saturday, August 30, 2008
HIV Spreading in New York City at About Three Times the National Rate
HIV is spreading in New York City at about three times the national rate, with an incidence of 72 new HIV infections per 100,000 people, compared with 23 new infections per 100,000 people nationwide, according to a study released Wednesday by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the New York Times reports (Chan, New York Times, 8/28).
The study's findings are based on a new HIV testing method developed by CDC that can determine when an HIV infection occurred. Previous data did not distinguish recent infections from those that occurred years earlier, according to the health department. About 100,000 New York residents are living with HIV, health officials said (Honan, Reuters, 8/27). According to the study, 4,762 New York residents contracted HIV in 2006 (New York Times, 8/28). Health officials attributed the higher rate of new HIV infections in the city to large populations of blacks, men who have sex with men and other high-risk groups (AP/Google.com, 8/27). According to the health department, it is unclear whether the number of new infections that occurred in the city in 2006 had increased or decreased over previous years because the testing method is new.
According to the study, men accounted for 76% of new HIV infections while women accounted for 25%. Blacks accounted for 46% of new infections, Hispanics for 32% and whites for 21%. Whites living in the city contracted HIV at four times the national rate, Hispanics at three times the national rate, and blacks in the city contracted the virus at almost twice the national rate. The study found that 4% of new infections were among people younger than age 20, while people ages 20 to 29 accounted for 24% of new infections. People ages 30 to 39 and those ages 40 to 49 each accounted for 29% of new infections, while people older than age 50 accounted for 15%. People younger than age 30 accounted for 28% of new infections in New York City, compared with 41% nationwide.
The primary mode of HIV transmission was sex between men, which accounted for 50% of new infections. High-risk heterosexual sex accounted for 22% of new infections, and injection drug use accounted for 8%. The mode of transmission was unknown in 18% of new cases, the study found (New York Times, 8/28).
In addition, the study found that blacks living in the city contracted HIV at three times the rate of whites and that blacks accounted for almost half of new infections (Reuters, 8/27). Of new HIV infections among MSM younger than age 30, 77% occurred in black and Hispanic men. Black and Hispanic MSM ages 30 to 50 also accounted for 59% of new infections among MSM in that age group (New York Times, 8/28).
Assistant Health Commissioner Monica Sweeney said the study's findings reinforce the need to continue promoting HIV testing and prevention throughout the city (AP/Google.com, 8/27). The department in a statement added that "even a rough gauge of HIV incidence is a valuable tool for understanding -- and combating -- the spread of HIV." The department said that by using the same testing method in future years, "researchers may be able to discern increases and decreases [in HIV incidence] over time and target prevention efforts accordingly" (New York Times, 8/28).
The study's findings are based on a new HIV testing method developed by CDC that can determine when an HIV infection occurred. Previous data did not distinguish recent infections from those that occurred years earlier, according to the health department. About 100,000 New York residents are living with HIV, health officials said (Honan, Reuters, 8/27). According to the study, 4,762 New York residents contracted HIV in 2006 (New York Times, 8/28). Health officials attributed the higher rate of new HIV infections in the city to large populations of blacks, men who have sex with men and other high-risk groups (AP/Google.com, 8/27). According to the health department, it is unclear whether the number of new infections that occurred in the city in 2006 had increased or decreased over previous years because the testing method is new.
According to the study, men accounted for 76% of new HIV infections while women accounted for 25%. Blacks accounted for 46% of new infections, Hispanics for 32% and whites for 21%. Whites living in the city contracted HIV at four times the national rate, Hispanics at three times the national rate, and blacks in the city contracted the virus at almost twice the national rate. The study found that 4% of new infections were among people younger than age 20, while people ages 20 to 29 accounted for 24% of new infections. People ages 30 to 39 and those ages 40 to 49 each accounted for 29% of new infections, while people older than age 50 accounted for 15%. People younger than age 30 accounted for 28% of new infections in New York City, compared with 41% nationwide.
The primary mode of HIV transmission was sex between men, which accounted for 50% of new infections. High-risk heterosexual sex accounted for 22% of new infections, and injection drug use accounted for 8%. The mode of transmission was unknown in 18% of new cases, the study found (New York Times, 8/28).
In addition, the study found that blacks living in the city contracted HIV at three times the rate of whites and that blacks accounted for almost half of new infections (Reuters, 8/27). Of new HIV infections among MSM younger than age 30, 77% occurred in black and Hispanic men. Black and Hispanic MSM ages 30 to 50 also accounted for 59% of new infections among MSM in that age group (New York Times, 8/28).
Assistant Health Commissioner Monica Sweeney said the study's findings reinforce the need to continue promoting HIV testing and prevention throughout the city (AP/Google.com, 8/27). The department in a statement added that "even a rough gauge of HIV incidence is a valuable tool for understanding -- and combating -- the spread of HIV." The department said that by using the same testing method in future years, "researchers may be able to discern increases and decreases [in HIV incidence] over time and target prevention efforts accordingly" (New York Times, 8/28).
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