Behavioural risk factors and HIV infection of injection drug users at detoxification clinics in Puerto Rico.
BACKGROUND
The ethnic and geographical variations of AIDS prevalence among injection drug users (IDU) have highlighted the need to understand the role of the relevant risk factors in specific subpopulations of IDU. In this study we examine the factors related to seropositivity among IDU entering drug detoxification facilities in metropolitan San Juan, Puerto Rico.


METHODS
From October 1990 until August 1991, 390 IDU were interviewed. Four groups of risk factors were examined: sexual practices, drug injection behaviours, risk behaviours while in US Mainland cities, and while incarcerated. A stepwise logistic regression model was used to simultaneously assess the independent effects of the behavioural risk factors on HIV seropositivity.


RESULTS
Of the 342 IDU who were tested for HIV antibodies, 29.5% were seropositive. The behaviours found to be associated with seropositivity were: having sex with an IDU in the last 6 months; having injected drugs for over 5 years; and injecting with used needles while incarcerated.


CONCLUSIONS
Public health programmes will need to establish more effective collaborative links with correctional institutions in order to reduce the spread of HIV among IDU in Puerto Rico.
Research Institute, Puerto Rico Department of Anti Addiction Services, Rio Piedras 00928-1414.
R R
RR
Robles
H M
HM
Colón
N
N
Díaz
L I
LI
Cancel
R
R
MacGowan
G E
GE
Cole
D M
DM
Allen
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000635:transmission; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016485:Needle Sharing; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000208:ethnology