Douglas M. Scheidt

Male bar drinkers' perspective on female bar drinkers

Five focus group discussions were conducted with 34 male bar drinkers to obtain their perception of the character and risks for aggression among women they observe in bars. The majority of the men were European American (61.8%), 29.4% were African American, and 8.8% were from other ethnic groups. Their impressions of women were based on appearance, type and speed of alcohol being consumed, and behavior. Every group suggested that women who dress in a sexually provocative manner or get drunk are more likely to be perceived as “loose” or sexually “easy” by men in general. These findings are consistent with stereotypes of women drinkers as sexually promiscuous and highlight the societal double standards for men and women who drink. The men described a woman calling attention to herself, being alone, out late, or having contact with many men in the bar as vulnerable. These findings are similar to those found during focus group discussions with women bar drinkers (K. A. Parks, B. A. Miller, R. L. Collins, & L. M. Zetes-Zanatta, 1998).

Composite index for aggregating nutrient density using food labels: ratio of recommended to restricted food components.

This article describes a ratio of recommended to restricted food components (RRR) designed to provide consumers with a summary of food label information to guide healthful, single-item food selections. As a ratio, RRR is interpreted such that better foods score over 1.0. The potential usefulness of the ratio is illustrated comparing foods within categories of the Food Guide Pyramid (eg, skim milk and whole milk). The RRR is proposed for use at the point of purchase for single food items, summarizing the food label, or providing concise information where none is currently presented, such as in restaurants.

INDIVIDUAL AND SITUATIONAL MARKERS OF CONDOM USE AND SEX WITH NONPRIMARY PARTNERS AMONG ALCOHOLIC INPATIENTS : FINDINGS FROM THE ATRISK STUDY

Alcoholics in treatment have demonstrated increased rates of HIV risk behavior and infection. This study explored individual and situational variables associated with HIV risk behaviors such as condom nonuse and sex with nonprimary partners reported during structured interviews of 802 male and female alcoholic inpatients. Logistic regression analyses indicated that person variables, sexual history variables, and situation variables were independently associated with sexual risk behavior in the most recent episode. Results of paired t tests revealed that participants who had engaged in sex with both primary and nonprimary partners during the previous 6 months reported significantly more frequent alcohol and condom use in situations involving sex with nonprimary partners. Prevention efforts need to target alcoholic inpatients as a group and, within this group, to focus on both high-risk individuals and high-risk situations.

HIV risk behavior among alcoholic inpatients before and after treatment

In order to evaluate the natural history of HIV risk behavior among alcoholics during pretreatment active alcoholism, posttreatment sobriety, and posttreatment postrelapse periods, self-report data were collected from alcoholic inpatients at two times. During treatment, patients reported pretreatment behaviors. At 90 day follow-up, patients reported behavior during posttreatment sobriety, and if appropriate, during posttreatment postrelapse periods. A total of 68 patients participated, with 28 (41.2%) completing follow-up questionnaires. There were no differences on pretreatment HIV risk behaviors between completers and those lost to follow-up, although there were several differences on age of onset of alcoholism. Among the 28 completers, 9 relapsed before follow-up. Data were analyzed comparing pretreatment and posttreatment sobriety behaviors on all 28 patients, and pretreatment, posttreatment sobriety, and posttreatment postrelapse behaviors on the 9 relapsers. Findings indicated that survivors (those who had not relapsed) significantly decreased HIV risk behavior during posttreatment sobriety. There was a relapse by time interaction such that relapsers reported more sex partners per day during posttreatment sobriety than did survivors. There was no significant change upon relapse, although this may have reflected the low power of this pilot study. The author concludes that HIV risk behaviors among alcoholics are associated with the context of active alcoholism. Relapsers appeared to continue in that context, with its concomitant HIV risk behavior, even during posttreatment sobriety.