Heterosexual HIV and sexual partnerships between injection drug users and noninjection drug users.
Sex partnerships with injection drug users (IDU) are an understudied network-level risk factor for heterosexual HIV infection. Heterosexuals with no history of injection were recruited from high-risk areas in New York City through respondent-driven sampling. We examined the prevalence of IDU sex partnerships among these non-IDU, the factors associated with having a past year IDU partner, and the independent association of HIV infection and IDU sex partnerships in multiple logistic regression. Of the 601 non-IDU in this analysis, 13.8% had a sex partner in the past year with a history of injection. IDU partnerships were significantly more common among women and those with higher levels of unprotected sex and drug and alcohol use. Overall, 7.0% tested positive for HIV. HIV prevalence was higher (p = 0.07) for participants with IDU partners (9.6%) compared to those with no IDU partners (4.6%). In multiple logistic regression, participants with IDU partners were over twice as likely to be HIV-infected (p = 0.08). Sex partnerships with IDU were common and may play an important role in heterosexual HIV transmission in areas with large IDU populations. Prevention interventions to encourage the disclosure of injection history and risk reduction specifically for those with IDU partners are indicated.
Jenness
Samuel M
SM
HIV Epidemiology Program, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, New York 10013, USA. sjenness@health.nyc.gov
Neaigus
Alan
A
Hagan
Holly
H
Murrill
Christopher S
CS
Wendel
Travis
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D020010:Heterosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012747:Sexual Partners; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult