title: Sexual risk behavior among injection drug users before widespread availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy.
abstract: HIV testing and counseling has been associated with reductions in risk behaviors in some populations. This study examined whether involvement in a long-term study, including exposure to repeated HIV testing and counseling, was associated with increased condom use among injection drug users (IDUs) through a retrospective analysis of an IDU cohort from Baltimore, MD, during 1994-1998. Eligibility included being aged 18 years or older, injecting within 10 years and not having initiated antiretroviral therapy. A logistic model of high versus low risk, based on condom use, was used. Of 322 eligible IDUs, most were male (66%) and African-American (94%). No significant change in the odds of inconsistent condom use was observed with continued study exposure. Condom use remained low, indicating a need for interventions to reduce sexual risks and HIV transmission in this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Care and Epidemiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. mrusch@interchange.ubc.ca
authors.forename: Melanie L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Rusch
authors.forename: Homayoon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Farzadegan
authors.forename: Patrick M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Tarwater
authors.forename: Mahboobeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Safaeian
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vlahov
authors.forename: Steffanie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Strathdee
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis; D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D015142:Baltimore; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*