Colón H M, Robles R R, Marrero C A, Reyes J C, Sahai H
Research Institute, Puerto Rico Mental Health and Anti-Addiction Services Administration, San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA.
AIDS. 1996 Sep;10(10):1163-8.
To examine the influence of knowledge of HIV serostatus on changes in risk behaviors among injecting drug users (IDU).
IDU were recruited through sampling conducted at street drug-selling areas. Of 374 participants, 88.8% consented to be HIV tested and returned for their test results, and 73.5% were relocated and interviewed 6 months later.
Of the 176 IDU who reported a seronegative test result prior to baseline, 29 tested seropositive at baseline. No significant differences were found between HIV-positive and HIV-negative IDU in needle risk behaviors. HIV-positive IDU were significantly less likely to report being sexually active [odds ratio (OR), 0.41 : 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.22-0.75] and more likely to use condoms during vaginal (OR, 4.43; 95% CI, 1.48-13.29) and oral sex (OR, 6.67; 95% CI, 1.42-31.33).
The findings of this study show the importance of encouraging IDU to undergo periodic retesting. HIV testing could have an important role in reducing heterosexual transmission from IDU.
