HIV risk behaviors among Asian drug users in San Francisco.
This study identified patterns of drug use and HIV risk behaviors in relation to cultural factors among Asian drug users in San Francisco. A sample of 92 Asian drug users (35 Chinese, 31 Filipino, 26 Vietnamese) who were not currently enrolled in drug treatment programs were recruited through targeted sampling methods and interviewed using a questionnaire with open-ended questions. The study evaluated responses of the participants based on content analyses. Compared with Chinese and Vietnamese, Filipino drug users had engaged in riskier behaviors in terms of injection drug use, having sex while on drugs, and having sex with injection drug users (IDUs). Cultural factors such as stigma of injection drug use and fear of needles were cited as reasons for not injecting drugs. Among IDUs, half cited trust as a reason for having shared needles. AIDS prevention programs targeting Asian drug users should consider specific cultural factors among high-risk groups (i.e., Filipinos, immigrants, women, and IDUs).
Nemoto
T
T
Asian American Recovery Services, San Francisco, USA. tnemoto@psg.ucsf.edu
Aoki
B
B
Huang
K
K
Morris
A
A
Le
M N
MN
Nguyen
H
H
Ching
A
A
Wong
W
W
D000328:Adult; D001213:Asian; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology / Q000635:transmission*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012495:San Francisco; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology*; D014505:Urban Population