Crack users, sexual behavior and risk of HIV infection.
OBJECTIVE
To compare a sample of injecting cocaine users and crack users, assessing sexual behavior, risk for infection by HIV and its seroprevalence.


METHODS
109 injecting cocaine users and 132 crack users were assessed, using the World Health Organization questionnaire from the expanded "Cross-Site Study of Behaviors and HIV Seroprevalence among Injecting Drug Users" and HIV serology. Data were assessed by Multiple Correspondences Analysis.


RESULTS
Crack users showed less time of drug consumption when compared to the injecting cocaine users. Despite this fact, they had higher rates of risky sexual activity, differences in poli-consumption of drugs, and higher rates of involvement in illegal issues. HIV seroprevalence among crack users, although lower than for injecting cocaine users (7% vs. 33%) is high when compared to the general population at the same age.


CONCLUSIONS
Sexual behavior of crack users in the studied sample may be considered a risk factor for HIV infection. Crack users have access to information on HIV/ AIDS, but do not make use of it to change risk behaviors that may expose them to HIV infection and dissemination. HIV seroprevalence among crack users (7%) is concerning, which makes it necessary to create preventive strategies for HIV infection and dissemination that are specifically directed toward this population.
de Azevedo
Renata Cruz Soares
RC
Department of Medical Psychology and Psychiatry, School of Medical Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil. azevedo.renata@uol.com.br
Botega
Neury José
NJ
Guimarães
Liliana Andolpho Magalhães
LA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016578:Crack Cocaine; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D016578:Crack Cocaine