Prevalence of HIV infection and risk behaviors among younger and older injecting drug users in the United States, 2009.
This study compared HIV sero-prevalence and risk behaviors between younger and older injecting drug users (IDUs). IDUs aged ≥18 years were interviewed for the 2009 National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System. Using GEE regression, we assessed characteristics of younger (18-29 years) and older (≥30 years) IDUs, and factors associated with past 12-month receptive syringe sharing and unprotected sex (vaginal/anal). Of 10,090 participants, 10 % were younger. HIV sero-prevalence was lower among younger than older IDUs (4 vs. 10 %, p = 0.001). Younger IDUs were more likely (p ≤ 0.002) to be non-black race/ethnicity, report higher household income, homelessness, being arrested and to engage in receptive syringe sharing and unprotected sex. In multivariable models, age remained associated (p < 0.001) with receptive syringe sharing (aPR = 1.14, 95 % CI1.07-1.22) and unprotected sex (aPR = 1.10, 95 % CI1.06-1.14). Although younger IDUs had lower HIV prevalence, their behaviors place them at increased risk of HIV infection and could lead to a rapid spread in this susceptible population.
Behavioral and Clinical Surveillance Branch, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, MS-E46, Atlanta, GA, 30333, USA, dbroz@cdc.gov.
Dita
D
Broz
Huong
H
Pham
Michael
M
Spiller
Cyprian
C
Wejnert
Binh
B
Le
Alan
A
Neaigus
Gabriela
G
Paz-Bailey
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055030:Drug Users / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016485:Needle Sharing; D012309:Risk-Taking; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D047568:Unsafe Sex; D055815:Young Adult