Quantity, Not Frequency, of Alcohol Use Moderates the Association between Multiple Sexual Partners and Trichomonas Vaginalis among Women Attending an Urban STD Clinic

Below:  The predicted probability of trichomoniasis from the interaction of number of sexual partners and drinks per drinking day (A), drinks per week (B), and peak consumption (C).

Women (n = 580; 18 to 56 years of age; 64% Black) who reported that they had consumed alcohol at least once in the past year were included in the analyses. Of the 580 women, 157 women were diagnosed with a STD and 80 tested positive for trichomoniasis. Trichomoniasis was associated with having multiple sexual partners (OR = 1.09; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.17) but not with the number or proportion of unprotected sex events (Ps >.05) in the past 3 months. Quantity of alcohol use (drinks per drinking day, drinks per week, and peak consumption) moderated the association between number of sexual partners and trichomoniasis.

Number of sexual partners predicted the probability of trichomoniasis when women reported drinking larger quantities of alcohol. Because having multiple sexual partners increases the risk for STD transmission, interventions designed for at-risk women should address the quantity of alcohol consumed as well as partner reduction to reduce risk for trichomoniasis.

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