title: Examining racial/ethnic disparities in sexually transmitted diseases among recent heroin-using and cocaine-using women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study examined racial differences in the prevalence of sexual risk behaviors and their associations with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among recent heroin-using and cocaine-using women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 214 women (59% black, 41% white) who were recruited during 2002-2010 using targeted sampling to participate in a study in Baltimore, Maryland, and reported using heroin, cocaine, or crack during the previous 6 months. Participants completed self-report questionnaires about their drug use, sexual risk behaviors, and lifetime history of one of six STDs, including gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, genital herpes, genital warts, or trichomoniasis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More black women (50%) than white women (28%) reported a lifetime STD. Although there were no racial differences in the lifetime prevalence of sexual risk behaviors assessed, there were racial differences in the sexual behaviors associated with ever having a lifetime STD. Simple logistic regressions revealed that ever having a casual sex partner or anal sex were correlates of having a lifetime STD among black women but not among white women. Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that ever having a casual sex partner was significantly associated with having a lifetime STD among black women, and ever trading sex for money was significantly associated with having a lifetime STD among white women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings are consistent with national studies and elucidate racial disparities in STDs and associated sexual behaviors among recent heroin-using and cocaine-using women. Findings underscore the need to tailor STD prevention interventions differently for black and white recent heroin-using and cocaine-using women.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. cocavana@camden.rutgers.edu
authors.forename: Courtenay E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Cavanaugh
authors.forename: Leah J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Floyd
authors.forename: Typhanye V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Penniman
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hulbert
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gaydos
authors.forename: William W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Latimer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000208:ethnology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000208:ethnology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000208:ethnology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult