T. Myers et al., DIFFERENCES IN SEXUAL RISK-TAKING BEHAVIOR WITH STATE OF INEBRIATION IN AN ABORIGINAL POPULATION IN ONTARIO, CANADA, Journal of studies on alcohol, 58(3), 1997, pp. 312-322
Objective: This article describes the self-reported use of substances,
participation in unprotected intercourse and differences in sexual ri
sk-taking behavior with state of inebriation among a group of aborigin
al (First Nations) people in Ontario. And, in so doing, attempts to an
swer some of the questions about the association between the use of al
cohol and sexual risk taking in this population. Method: The project w
as developed in a partnership between an aboriginal steering committee
and university researchers. Data were collected via interview from 65
8 randomly selected status First Nations people living within 11 reser
ve communities in the province. Results: Of the 426 individuals includ
ed in the within subject analysis 9.6% reported variation in their par
ticipation in sex, 13.8% variation in their participation in intercour
se and 10.3% variation in their participation in unprotected intercour
se with inebriation. An examination of individual behavior across ''so
ber'' and ''drunk or high'' states showed that there were almost equal
proportions of respondents who only participated in unsafe sex when s
ober and respondents who only participated in unsafe sex when drunk or
high. Where significant differences occurred, individuals were more l
ikely to report a shift towards no sex or no intercourse with inebriat
ion, not towards unprotected intercourse. Conclusions: Since a large p
roportion of individuals in this study engage in unprotected intercour
se, the small proportion of individuals reporting different sexual beh
avior were more likely to report participation in a safe activity rath
er than an unsafe activity while ''drunk or high.'' Stereotypes and as
sumptions may lead educators and researchers to feel the need to focus
their messages on the relationship between drug and alcohol consumpti
on and unsafe sex; however, the amount of unsafe sexual intercourse th
at occurs only while individuals are inebriated suggests that this foc
us is not of principal concern.