Gender differences in high risk sexual behaviors and injection practices associated with perceived HIV risk among injection drug users.

Full Abstract

This study compared male and female injection drug users (IDUs) on perceived risk of contracting HIV and examined the associations between risk perceptions and sharing injection drugs or equipment, engaging in casual sex, and engaging in commercial sex. We used baseline data from 271 IDUs recruited between 2000 and 2005 from the Baltimore, Maryland site of the International Neurobehavioral HIV Study. We found that although there was no significant difference in levels of perceived risk between males and females, males reported significantly more casual sex, whereas females reported more commercial sex. Logistic regression analyses with the entire sample indicated that sharing of injection drugs or equipment was consistently associated with greater perceived risk. We also found a significant interaction between gender and having had casual sex, such that females who had engaged in casual sex were significantly more likely to perceive that they were at greater risk for contracting HIV. Our results suggest that male IDUs should be targeted for HIV risk-reduction programs focusing on casual and commercial sex.

Author information

Author/s: Mitchell, Mary M (MM); Latimer, William W (WW);

Affiliation: Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. mmmitche(-atsign-)jhsph.edu

Grants: R01 DA010777 (Agency:NIDA NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: AIDS education and prevention : official publication of the International Society for AIDS Education (AIDS Educ Prev), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Aug; vol 21 (issue 4) : pp 384-94

Dates: Created 2009/08/12; Completed 2009/09/09;

PMID: 19670972, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 9/9/2009)

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