A comparison of the determinants of safe injecting and condom use among injecting drug users

Abstract

A sample of 582 injecting drug users were interviewed as part of an evaluation of an AIDS prevention programme for drug users. This paper examines the biographic and predispositional determinants of five HIV preventive behaviours-equipment sharing (not receiving and not giving) and condom use (with regular partners, casual partners and sex clients). A two-stage sequential approach was adopted for a logistic regression analysis. Initially, to model each of the five preventive behaviours, biographical and drug use variables were entered. In a second set of models, behavioural predisposition factors were included. Age, drug use and prison experience correlate with variables in both models, although not consistently in the same direction. While a predisposition to reject sharing correlates with safer injecting and condom use, the predisposition to safer sex only correlates with condom use. Needle exchange programmes that only target the individual would seem to be inadequate. To enhance targeted interventions changes in public and agency policy that create a social environment conducive to behaviour change are required.

Alcohol Use and Sexual Risk Taking Among Hazardously Drinking Drug Injectors Who Attend Needle Exchange

“…Psychosocial variables related to risk include loss of close friends and family to AIDS, and depression, factors that were not measured in our study (Schilling et al, 1993). Others have reported that younger age was associated with safer sex practices (Myers et al, 1995), a finding again not reproduced here.…”

Condom Use Behaviors in HIV–Infected African American Crack Cocaine Users

“…Even so, less than half of HTV-f drug injectors, 46%, consistently used condoms. Friedman et al's findings are representative of other research (6,(17)(18)(19)(20). A study conducted by Kwiatkowski and Booth (21) compared the likelihood of engaging in unprotected sex between HTV+ crack smokers and HIV+ drug injectors.…”

Women, Harm Reduction and HIV

“…[14][15][16][17] Some studies have found an association between syringe sharing and inconsistent condom use. 18,19 In the United States, sexual practices have a greater effect on HIV risk for women IDUs than for men. In Baltimore, high risk sexual activity surpassed risky drug use practices as the main predictor of HIV infection among women IDUs during the period observed; HIV incidence more than doubled among women IDUs who had an IDU sex partner.…”