IV drug users: changes in risk behaviour according to HIV status in a national survey in Spain.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether HIV positive intravenous drug users (IVDUs) who were receiving outpatient treatment for opiate and cocaine abuse or dependence used practices aimed at reducing the spread of HIV.


METHODS
Cross sectional study of behaviour and HIV serostatus in IVDUs.


METHODS
A nationwide sample, from 83 health centres for outpatient treatment, stratified by autonomous regions.


METHODS
Altogether 1074 IVDUs were recruited. HIV serostatus could be verified in 738 (68.7%) of these.


RESULTS
Crude and adjusted odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were estimated to assess the association between HIV serostatus and behavioural changes. In their daily interactions with other members of the same household, seropositive subjects more frequently used preventive methods aimed at avoiding transmission than seronegative patients. Treatment for abuse or dependency before the current regimen had a greater impact in HIV positive than HIV negative subjects in terms of abstaining from risk behaviours. There was a significant trend toward lower drug consumption in HIV positive subjects, and the number of seropositive and seronegative IVDUs who stopped injecting their drugs was significantly higher among the former. Seropositive subjects were also more likely to stop sharing drug injecting equipment and to change their sexual habits; they reported an increased consistent use of condoms.


CONCLUSIONS
HIV positive IVDUs were more likely to change their risk behaviours than their HIV negative counterparts.
Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Avenida de Madrid, Granada, Spain.
M
M
Delgado-Rodríguez
L
L
dé lá Fuente
M J
MJ
Bravo
P
P
Lardelli
G
G
Barrio
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013030:Spain; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000523:psychology*
D013287:Illicit Drugs