Sharing injecting equipment and sexual behavior in ambulatory intravenous drug users: a national survey (Spain).
This article examines the relationship between sharing and sexual behavior in a nationwide sample of 1,074 intravenous drug users (IVDUs) in ambulatory treatment in Spain. Of our sample, 31.9% shared or had shared injecting equipment. Sharing was associated with sex-less frequent in males--and yielded an inverse relationship with age, years of education, and age at first intravenous drug use. Sharers, especially women, engaged more frequently in sex in exchange for money. A small proportion (6.3%) of male IVDUs had bisexual or homosexual relations. Condoms were always used by 18.4% of males and 15.9% of females. The sharing of injecting equipment was not generally associated with a particular type of penetrative sexual encounter, although condom use was less frequent among IVDUs who shared injecting equipment. The limitations of the present study are discussed.
Bravo
M J
MJ
National Plan on Drugs, Ministry of Health, Madrid, Spain.
Delgado-Rodríguez
M
M
de la Fuente
L
L
Lardelli
P
P
Barrio
G
G
López
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D016485:Needle Sharing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation