Recorded presentation

Micaela H. Coady, MS¹, Hanne Thiede, DVM, MPH², Elizabeth T. Golub, PhD, MPH³, Lawrence Ouellet, PhD⁴, Sharon M. Hudson, PhD⁵, Mary Latka, PhD¹, Farzana Kapadia, MPH¹, and Richard S. Garfein, PhD, MPH⁶. (1) Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10029, 212-822-7277, mcoady@nyam.org, (2) HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Program, Public Health - Seattle & King County, 106 Prefontaine Place South, Seattle, WA 98104, (3) Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 627 N. Washington Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, (4) Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1603 W. Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60612, (5) Health Research Association, 1111 N. Las Palmas Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038, (6) Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Epidemiology Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, MS E-45, Atlanta, GA 30017

Objective: To examine the prevalence and correlates of homelessness among young (15-30 yrs) IDUs recruited from 5 US cities (Baltimore, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Seattle). Methods: Baseline data from IDUs enrolled in CIDUS-III/DUIT, a 2-arm randomized behavioral intervention trial to prevent HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) were analyzed to identify the extent and determinants of homelessness (defined as self-perceived homelessness in the 6-months prior). Demographic and behavioral characteristics including injection (substance use/frequency, receptive syringe-sharing, using shooting galleries) and sexual behaviors (number of partners, condom use, sex work) were selected for analysis based on substantive knowledge of potential correlates of homelessness. Results: A total of 2798 subjects provided baseline data (mean age 24 years, 70% male, 65% White, 40% less than high school education, 73% ever incarcerated, 34% HCV positive). Half (n=1390) of the participants considered themselves homeless. In multivariate analysis, after adjusting for city, daily alcohol consumption (OR=1.74; 95% CI: 1.26-2.41), injecting speedball (OR=1.37; 95% CI: 1.13-1.67), sharing non-syringe paraphernalia (OR=1.42; 95% CI: 1.16-1.74), using shooting galleries (OR=2.46; 95% CI: 2.02-2.99), having been jailed at least once (OR=1.51; 95% CI: 1.22-1.87), and sex work (OR=1.45; 95% CI: 1.18-1.79), were associated with being homeless. Conclusion: Homelessness was common and associated with HIV/HCV-related risk behaviors, especially in marginalized IDUs. Programs for IDUs should focus on reducing homelessness and associated HIV/HCV risk behaviors, and providing post-incarceration programs.

Learning Objectives:

• To provide information on the prevalence and correlates of homelessness among young IDUs in order to inform future programs and interventions.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.

Recorded presentation