Concurrent Alcohol and Marijuana Use as a Determinant of Condom Beliefs and Utility Among African American Male Inmates

Abstract

The objective of this study is to determine the extent to which regular use of marijuana and alcohol may influence African American inmate’s beliefs, views, and practices regarding condoms. In this article, we report and discuss the implications of our findings for the planning of HIV prevention interventions for African American male inmate populations. Relationships between individual condom use and belief variables were examined using linear regression models. All models specified regularity of marijuana or alcohol use with respect to detailed condom use or belief outcomes as predictor variables. Analysis from 126 male inmates recruited from three medium security prisons and one Area Transition Center in Georgia are presented herein. Results note that frequency of marijuana use predicted and was associated with inmate’s reporting how often they use a condom during sex (Beta = −0.261, P < 0.009), suggesting that the more respondents reported smoking marijuana, the less likely they were to indicating using condoms during sex. Regularity of alcohol consumption was almost predictive of inmates indicating that they could always talk to any potential sex partner to make him/her understand why they should use condoms (p < 0.082) and stating that they could always say no to sexual intercourse with someone they had just met even if they were very attracted to that person (p < 0.063).