DIFFERENCES IN SEXUAL RISK-TAKING BEHAVIOR WITH STATE OF INEBRIATION IN AN ABORIGINAL POPULATION IN ONTARIO, CANADA

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.