Background: Injection drug use continues to be a major mode of HIV infection in the US and in many other countries. Co-morbid mental health disorders among illicit drug users create additional challenges in efforts to promote and sustain HIV preventive behaviors. This analysis is an examination of the relationship between depressive symptoms and HIV risk behavior in a sample of injection drug users in Baltimore City, MD, USA. Methods: Data for this analysis comes from baseline data from the SHIELD (Self-Help In Eliminating Life-threatening Diseases) Project. SHIELD is an experimental intervention designed to test the effectiveness of peer influences on HIV risk behaviors among a sample of inner-city drug users. Targeted outreach was used to recruit study participants (N=1,637). Results: Of the total sample, approximately 47% reported injecting drugs in the past 6 months. Of these, approximately 78% had scores indicating high risk for depression according to the Center for Epidemiologic Study--Depression Scale (CES-D). Results from bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses indicate a significant association between presence of depressive symptoms and HIV risk behaviors such as using a needle immediately after someone else without cleaning it first and frequency of injection. Conclusion: Treatment of depressive symptoms may prove useful in helping illicit drug users reduce HIV risk behaviors.
Learning Objectives: By the end of this presentation, participants will recognize the importance of considering mental health disorders within the context of HIV prevention for illicit drug users.
Keywords: Risk Behavior, Mental Disorders
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.