Housing status and associated differences in HIV risk behaviors among young injection drug users (IDUs).
Using cross-sectional analysis we examined residential status and associated differences in HIV risk behaviors among 3266 young IDUs enrolled in an HIV prevention trial. A three-level outcome (homeless (37%), equivocally housed (17%), housed (46%)) was defined based on responses to two questions assessing subjective and objective criteria for homelessness: "equivocally housed" participants were discordant on these measures. In multivariate analysis, antecedents of homelessness were having lived in an out-of-home placement, been thrown out of the home or in juvenile detention, and experienced childhood abuse; while correlates included receiving income from other and illegal sources, drinking alcohol or using methamphetamine at least daily, using shooting galleries, backloading, and sex work. A subset of these variables was associated with being equivocally housed. HIV risk varies by housing status, with homeless IDUs at highest risk. Programs for IDUs should utilize a more specific definition of residential status to target IDUs needing intervention.
Coady
Micaela H
MH
Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA. mcoady@nyam.org
Latka
Mary H
MH
Thiede
Hanne
H
Golub
Elizabeth T
ET
Ouellet
Larry
L
Hudson
Sharon M
SM
Kapadia
Farzana
F
Garfein
Richard S
RS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014505:Urban Population