Demographic characteristics, treatment history, drug risk behaviors, and condom use attitudes for U.S. and Russian injection drug users: the need for targeted sexual risk behavior interventions.
Two separate databases, one on Russian (n = 444) injection drug users (IDUs), and the other on U.S. IDUs (n = 241), were merged, and responses were compared. Results indicated that Russian IDUs perceived themselves to be at greater risk for HIV/AIDS based upon behaviors over the past 90 days. U.S. IDUs were more likely to be tested for HIV, report a negative HIV result, and know more people with HIV. U.S. IDUs consumed greater amounts of alcohol and marijuana, and made more alcohol/drug treatment attempts than Russian IDUs. Russian IDUs injected more frequently, although were more likely to recently use clean needles. Russian and U.S. IDUs responded significantly differently to eight AIDS knowledge questions. Eight condom attitude questions were asked of each group, and each revealed significantly different responses. Gender differences for Russian IDUs were also observed. There is a clear need to create culturally targeted sexual risk reduction interventions.
Ksobiech
Kate
K
Center for AIDS Intervention Research (CAIR), Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53203-1918, USA. kksobiech@publicpolicyforum.org
Somlai
Anton M
AM
Kelly
Jeffrey A
JA
Gore-Felton
Cheryl
C
Benotsch
Eric
E
McAuliffe
Timothy
T
Hackl
Kristin
K
Ostrovski
Dmitri
D
Kozlov
Andrei P
AP
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D016208:Databases, Factual; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D018671:Needle-Exchange Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012426:Russia; D021841:Safe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012736:Sex Education; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014481:United States