Binge drinking, HIV/HPV co-infection risk, and HIV testing: Factors associated with HPV vaccination among young adults in the United States

Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection. Binge drinkers often engage in HIV/HPV co-infection high-risk behaviors. We examined the association between binge drinking, HIV/HPV co-infection risk, HIV testing and HPV vaccination among young adults. Data from the 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey were examined. Participants (N = 430/450,016; 0.11%) were HPV vaccine-eligible young adults ages 18-26 years. Multivariable logistic regression examined the association between binge drinking in the past 30 days, HIV/HPV co-infection high-risk risk behaviors, HIV testing, and HPV vaccination (initiated/completed, unvaccinated) among young adults. Respondents were primarily cisgender (99.8%), non-Hispanic White (41.4%), employed (46.2%) or student (35.4%), and insured (68.2%). Most did not binge drink (55.2%). The majority did not engage in HIV/HPV co-infection high-risk risk behaviors (78.2%). More than one-half had never been tested for HIV (59%) nor vaccinated against HPV (60.6%). Although binge drinkers (44.8%) were significantly more likely to engage in HIV/HPV co-infection high-risk behaviors (OR = 2.1; 95% CI: 1.0-4.5), binge drinking was not positively associated with HIV testing (OR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.63-1.53). After adjusting for demographics and HIV/HPV co-infection high-risk behaviors, one (aOR = 2.71; 95% CI: 1.11-6.65) and two episodes (aOR = 3.05; 95% CI: 1.26-7.41) of binge drinking in the past 30 days were significantly associated with HPV vaccination uptake. Positive associations between HPV vaccination and participants having an HIV test in 2017 (aOR = 3.86; 95% CI: 1.42-10.55) and before 2017 (aOR = 2.62; 95% CI: 1.23-5.56) were also statistically significant. Because young adult binge drinkers are more likely to engage in HIV/HPV co-infection high-risk behaviors, promoting HPV vaccination and HIV testing are important public health objectives.

Keywords: Alcohol; Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS); Binge drinking; HIV risk behaviors; HIV testing; HPV vaccination; Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV); Human Papilloma Virus (HPV); Young adults.