Lum PJ, Guydish JR, Brown E, Allen R; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 1998; 12: 382 (abstract no. 23202).

UCSF CTR for AIDS Prevention Studies San Francisco, USA.

OBJECTIVES: To compare HIV and drug use-related risk behavior between younger and older female injection drug users (IDUs), who attend needle exchange programs (NEPs) in San Francisco. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, observational study. A random sample of 150 female IDUs was recruited from all NEP sites in San Francisco. Women were interviewed using quantitative and qualitative methods. Responses were stratified by age: women age < 30 (N = 41) and age > or = 30 (N = 109). RESULTS: 80% of eligible subjects agreed to participate. Mean ages were 24 and 42 years. Younger women were more likely to be white, to have an IDU parent (34% vs. 10%; p = .001), to begin injecting at an earlier age (mean = 18 vs. 23; p = .0003), and to report a drug overdose in the last 12 months (34% vs. 14%; p = .001). They were more likely to own fewer (< or = 30) needles (78% vs. 62%; p < .02) and to use a needle more than once before exchanging it (85% vs. 60%; p = .003). Younger women were also more likely to report multiple needle-sharing occasions and partners (see below). Furthermore, when using with a main injecting partner, they were more likely to share needles (74% vs. 31%; p = .001) and to inject second (74% vs. 38%; p = .003). Finally, younger women were less likely to have taken an HIV test (90% vs. 98%; p < .03), received condoms or vitamins at the NEP (p < .01), or engaged in conversation with staff at NEP sites (56% vs. 72%; p < .05). TABULAR DATA, SEE ABSTRACT VOLUME. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Younger female injection drug users recruited from needle exchange programs in San Francisco report higher injection risks for HIV and other drug-related harm. (2) Needle exchange programs should target expanded outreach efforts and HIV prevention interventions at younger injection drug-using women.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Condoms
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Female
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Humans
• Needle Sharing
• Needle-Exchange Programs
• Needles
• Risk-Taking
• San Francisco
• Substance Abuse, Intravenous
• Substance-Related Disorders
• methods
• organization & administration

Other ID:

• 98395232

UI: 102228832

From Meeting Abstracts