Associations between medical service use and HIV risk among HIV-positive drug users in Baltimore, MD

The objectives of this study were first, to identify psychosocial and medical service utilization factors associated with unprotected sex with HIV-negative or unknown serostatus partners among persons living with HIV/AIDS, and second, to identify risk behaviours associated with HIV medical service u...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:AIDS care 2004-10, Vol.16 (7), p.901-908
Main Authors: Latkin, C. A., Forman-Hoffman, V. L., D'Souza, G., Knowlton, A. R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
Adult
AIDS
Baltimore - epidemiology
Biological and medical sciences
Data Collection
Drug Abuse
Drug abusers
Drug use
Drug users
Female
Health
Health care
Health Care Utilization
Health Promotion
Health risk assessment
Health services
Health Services Accessibility
Health services utilization
HIV
HIV Seropositivity - complications
Human immunodeficiency virus
Human viral diseases
Humans
Infectious diseases
Male
Maryland
Medical sciences
Odds Ratio
Patient Acceptance of Health Care - statistics & numerical data
Predictors
Public Health
Risk behaviour
Sexual Behavior
Sexual Behavior - psychology
Sexual behaviour
Substance Abuse, Intravenous - psychology
Unsafe Sex
USA
Viral diseases
Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids
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Summary:The objectives of this study were first, to identify psychosocial and medical service utilization factors associated with unprotected sex with HIV-negative or unknown serostatus partners among persons living with HIV/AIDS, and second, to identify risk behaviours associated with HIV medical service use. We assessed 244 HIV-positive participants in an HIV intervention targeting drug users (1997-99). Fifty-seven per cent of HIV-positive participants reported unprotected sex within the past 90 days, 16.4% with serodiscordant partners. Odds of risky sex were lower among those currently receiving HIV medical care (odds ratio (OR)=0.36), and were greater among females (OR=2.6), those having friends with lower norms of condom use (OR=3.3), and those having a main sexual partner (OR=6.2). Lower odds of receiving HIV medical care were associated with current drug use (OR=0.33), sharing drugs with a sex partner (OR=0.27), and exchanging sex for drugs or money (OR=0.24). Findings suggest the importance of community-based HIV prevention intervention targeting HIV-positive drug users not recovering HIV medical care.
ISSN:0954-0121
1360-0451
DOI:10.1080/09540120412331290239