HIV risk behaviors among women in methadone maintenance treatment.
This article reports on the HIV risk behaviors of a sample of 158 women heroin addicts admitted into the Los Angeles Enhanced Methadone Maintenance Project. Risk behaviors for HIV were associated with age, lack of education, ethnicity, relationship with a drug user, HIV status, and higher scores on measures of illegal activity, suicidality, depression, polydrug use, and alcohol use. Significant reductions in number of male sex partners and needle-sharing partners were reported at follow-up, although frequency of condom use was unchanged. Methadone maintenance programs need to screen women for risk factors and assist them in developing new behavioral skills in order to implement a harm reduction approach to treatment.
Grella
C E
CE
UCLA Drug Abuse Research Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Anglin
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D
Annon
J J
JJ
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000453:epidemiology; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016485:Needle Sharing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014505:Urban Population
D008691:Methadone