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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Lena Lundgren, PhD¹, Deborah Chassler, MSW¹, Timothy Purington, MEd², and Angela W. Maina, BS³. (1) School of Social Work, Boston University, 264 Bay State Road, Boston, MA 02215, 617-353-1654, llundgre@bu.edu, (2) Tapestry Health Systems Inc., 39 Mulberry Street, Springfield, MA 01105, (3) The Disparities Solutions Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, 50 Staniford Street - Suite 901, Boston, MA 02114

This presentation about active injection drugs users (IDUS) describes the association between demographic characteristics, housing status, use of psychotropic medication and HIV risk behaviors at two time points spaced one year apart.

Three measures of HIV risk behaviors were examined for Massachusetts IDUs (n = 543): (1) active injection drug use, however did not report sharing needles or engaging in unprotected sexual activity at any interview point, (2) active injection drug use, and reported either sharing needles or engaging in unprotected sexual activity at both interview points and, (3) active injection drug use and reported both sharing needles and engaging in unprotected sexual activity at both interview points. Using logistic regression analyses, the study identified that women IDUs were more than twice as likely than men to report both sharing needles and engaging in risky sexual behaviors at both interview points. The study identified that those who were residing in their own homes were more than 2.25 less likely to engage in any HIV risk behaviors even when injecting drugs. IDUs who were on psychotropic medications were significantly less likely to engage in any HIV risk behaviors even when injecting drugs.

Stability in housing and psychotropic medications appeared to be HIV protective factors for active IDUs. Being female was a critical risk factor for continuous HIV risk behaviors, confirming the importance of HIV risk prevention work with women. This study was funded by grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.

Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to

• List factors associated with IDUs’ engagement in HIV risky behaviors.
• Articulate how stability in social and contextual factors are associated with engagement in continuous HIV risky behaviors, including the role of psychotropic medication and housing.
• Discuss how findings can be used to influence existing HIV risk prevention work especially among women.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No