Objective: To assess the independent association between depression and HIV-related risk behaviors such as syringe sharing among injection drug users (IDU) and unprotected sex among young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in Seattle, WA.
Methods: Data from two Seattle studies, a cohort study of IDU (The RAVEN study) and an HIV/risk behavior prevalence study of YMSM (The Young Men's Survey), were analyzed. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies depression scale was used to assess depression prevalence. Sociodemographic and behavioral factors associated with depression were identified. Associations between depression and HIV risk behaviors were assessed using mutivariate logistic regression.
Results: Depression prevalence was 46.9% among IDU and 21.7% among YMSM. Factors associated with depression among IDU included age, race, gender, residence type, employment status, and injection frequency. Factors associated with depression among YMSM included income, education, living arrangement, disclosure of sexual orientation, number of lifetime sex partners, age at first sex, and history of forced sex or gay-bashing. Adjusting for potential confounding by these factors, depression was independently associated with syringe sharing among IDU (AOR=1.44; 95% CI=1.10-2.00), and reporting 3 or more sex partners in the last 6 months among YMSM (AOR=1.83; 95% CL=1.08-3.07). Depression was not associated with unprotected anal sex among YMSM.
Conclusions: Results suggest that depression contributes to HIV risk behavior among IDU and YMSM. Depression and other psychosocial factors related to risk behavior should be addressed when designing behavioral interventions targeting these populations.
Learning Objectives: 1. Describe the associations between depression and HIV risk behaviors among drug injectors and young gay men in Seattle. 2. Recognize that underlying psychosocial factors contribute to HIV risk behaviors. 3. Articulate the need to address psychosocial and mental heath factors in designing behavioral interventions for HIV prevention
Keywords: HIV Risk Behavior, Mental Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.