Sexual and drug risk behaviors among women who have sex with women.

OBJECTIVES

We examined risk behaviors of female drug users, comparing those who reported recently having had sex with women (recent WSW), those who reported previously having had sex with women (former WSW), and those who reported never having had sex with women (never WSW).

METHODS

We used data from the Risk Evaluation and Assessment of Community Health III Study. Adjusted odds for predictors of WSW status were determined via multinomial logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

Of the participants, 75% were never WSW, 12% were former WSW, and 13% were recent WSW. In comparison with never WSW status, significant predictors of recent WSW status were living away from one's parents as a child (adjusted odds ratio [OR]=3.05; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.07, 8.67) and recently having been paid for sex by men (adjusted OR=4.02; 95% CI=1.67, 9.68). Also, recently having been paid for sex by men was a significant predictor of former WSW status as opposed to never WSW status (adjusted OR=3.97; 95% CI=1.65, 9.59).

CONCLUSIONS

The recency with which they had sex with women is one of the facets influencing the risk profile of WSW. The diverse characteristics of the WSW population need to be incorporated into future studies and risk interventions targeting this group.