Sallar AM, Ba NS, LeSage D, Scribner R; National HIV Prevention Conference (2003 : Atlanta, Ga.).

Abstr Book 2003 Natl HIV Prev Conf July 27 30 2003 Hyatt Regency Atlanta Hotel Atlanta Ga Natl HIV Prev Conf 2003 Atlanta Ga. 2003; abstract no. W0-D1102.

Louisiana Office of Public Health, HIV/AIDS Program, New Orleans, LA

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The Louisiana Office of Public Health uses street outreach to target HIV prevention services to those who are at highest risk for HIV infection and are often hard to reach by traditional prevention methods. This study compares sexual behaviors, condom use, and HIV testing between rural and urban participants in street outreach surveys in Louisiana, and determines the predictors of condom use at last sex in this population.METHODS: Street outreach surveys were collected from the neighborhoods/sites in which street outreach activities were actively taking place. In 2002 surveys were collected by community based organisations (CBOs) at over 250 sites across the state. We categorized area of residence of respondent as rural or urban. We considered parishes to be urban if they are part of a metropolitan statistical area (MSA). Contingency table analysis compared urban versus rural residents. A logistic regression model was developed where variables that reached a significant level of p = 0.05 or lower were entered into the model while controlling for potential confounders such as age, sex, and location/ residence.The model was used to determine if race, having a condom at home, getting free condom, HIV testing history, having seen information about HIV and pregnancy, self perceived risk of HIV, and residence predict condom use at last sex. Adjusted Odds Ratios were computed to assess the magnitude of each variable's effect.RESULTS: A total number of 3,152 street outreach surveys were collected and analyzed. Of those surveyed, 53% were men, 44% women and 2% transgender. The mean age was 27 (s.d. 11 yrs) and 68 % of persons surveyed were less than 30 years. African-Americans constituted 83% and whites 7%. Nearly 76.5% of persons surveyed live in urban areas and African-Americans represent 67% of this urban population.Compared to their urban counterparts, residents of rural areas were less likely to report seeing or hearing about HIV and pregnancy (OR = 0.58; p < 0.001); less likely to have 2 or more sexual partners in the past 12 months (OR = 0.90; p = 0.04); less likely to use condoms at last sex (OR = 0.82; p =0.030); less likely to have condoms on hand or at home (OR = 0.72; p = 0.001); and less likely to have ever shot drugs (OR = 0.77; p = 0.002). In the multivariate analysis, predictors of condom use at last sex were age (p < 0.001), having seen pregnancy and HIV information (p= 0.008), knowing where to get free condoms (p < 0.001), having condoms at home (p < 0.001), having been engaged in sexual intercourse in the last 12 months (p = 0.03), and being a high risk youth (p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The street outreach program's objective of targeting those at high risk is being met. However, there still remains people who are engaging in high risk sexual behavior, and additional efforts, such as condom availability at no cost, need to be directed to those residents in rural areas of the state.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• African Americans
• Condoms
• Female
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Humans
• Logistic Models
• Louisiana
• Male
• Pregnancy
• Risk Factors
• Rural Population
• Safe Sex
• Sexual Behavior
• Sexual Partners
• Urban Population

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0022693

UI: 102262317

From Meeting Abstracts