title: Puerto Rican injection drug users: Prevention implications in Massachusetts and Puerto Rico.
abstract: This study examines whether place of residence is a factor associated with reporting a positive HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C (HCV), or Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) status in a sample of 400 injection drug users (IDUs) residing on the Island of Puerto Rico (N=139) and in western Massachusetts (N=261). Logistic regression models revealed that IDUs residing in western Massachusetts were 66% less likely to be HIV positive compared to IDUs residing in Puerto Rico (p<.000) while IDUs residing in western Massachusetts were about 67% less likely to have a positive STD status than those residing in Puerto Rico (p<.000). Place of residence was not significantly associated with HCV status. Results indicate the need to develop prevention programs tailored to the unique socio-cultural context of Puerto Rican IDUs residing on the Island of Puerto Rico whose circumstances differ from those in the mainland US. To reduce drug use, HIV/AIDS, HCV, and STDs among Puerto Ricans in both locales, the Capacity Enhancement Model is proposed in order to develop more effective prevention programs.
authors.affiliation: Boston University School of Social Work, 264 Bay State Road, Boston, MA 02215, USA. luzlopez@bu.edu
authors.forename: Luz Marilis
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Lisa de Saxe
authors.initials: Lde S
authors.lastname: Zerden
authors.forename: Therese C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.forename: Lena M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Lundgren
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000208:ethnology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods*; D011336:Probability; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000453:epidemiology; D012309:Risk-Taking; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000208:ethnology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015996:Survival Rate