[Evolution of the prevalence of HIV infection and risk behavior of drug injection among intravenous drug users infected or not infected by HIV in 3 Spanish cities. Working Group of Physicians of the World for the monitoring of HIV infection and risk behaviors in intravenous drug users].
OBJECTIVE
To know the evolution of HIV prevalence and risk behavior practices of drug injection in three spanish cities on the basis of the serologic status of injecting drug users.


METHODS
Cross-sectional surveys among users in syringe interchange programmes.


RESULTS
HIV prevalence (self-reported) decreased in Madrid from 50% (1992) down to 41% (1996) (p = 0.01) and did not change in Seville and Valencia from 1994 to 1996. Among HIV-positive injecting drug users, a decrease was observed in the practice of giving and taking used syringes in the three cities, although this decrease reached a statistically significance (p = 0.006) only for giving in Valencia from 1994 to 1996 and was almost significant (p = 0.08) for taking in Madrid from 1993 to 1996. Among HIV-negative injecting drug users, no decreases were observed in the practice of giving and taking used syringes and even a significant increase in giving syringes in Seville was recorded (p = 0.01) from 1994 to 1996.


CONCLUSIONS
HIV prevalence among injecting drug users is stabilized or decreasing in the three studied cities. The prevalence of injecting risk behavior evolves differently according to the serologic status.
Bravo Portela
M J
MJ
Centro Nacional de Epidemiología, Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo, Madrid.
Barrio Anta
G
G
de la Fuente de Hoz
L
L
Royuela Morales
L
L
Colomo Gómez
C
C
Rodríguez Arenas
A
A
D000328:Adult; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D016485:Needle Sharing; D015995:Prevalence; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013030:Spain; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*