High-Risk Behaviors for AIDS Among Heterosexual Alcoholics: A Pilot Study

• NCJ Number: 121615
• Journal: Journal of Studies on Alcohol Volume: 50 Issue: 6 Dated: (1989) Pages: 503-507
• Author(s): M Windle
• Date Published: 1989
• Length: 5 pages
• Grant Number(s): RO-5938-04
• Sponsoring Agency: Biomedical Research Support Grant Program
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study assessed 51 (34 men and 17 women) heterosexual alcoholic inpatients with respect to their engagement in high-risk behaviors for HIV infection and AIDS.

Abstract

Results showed that a subset of the subjects engaged in frequent and diverse high-risk sexual activities often had several different sexual partners over a six-month period, frequently used drugs during sexual activities, and sometimes used drugs intravenously. Minority subjects engaged in higher levels of high-risk behaviors than did whites. Age and educational level were both inversely related to behavioral risk for HIV infection. Although current findings are limited due to sample size and representativeness, the results indicate that future research needs to focus on high-risk behaviors for HIV infection among alcoholics. Future research would benefit from inclusion of a large sample size and a range of treatment units with greater representation of minority members and should include homosexuals and bisexuals. 5 notes, 23 references, 2 tables. (Author abstract modified)