Substance Use Patterns of HIV-Infected Russian Women with and Without Hepatitis C Virus Co-infection

AIDS Behav. 2016 Oct;20(10):2398-2407. doi: 10.1007/s10461-016-1362-5.

Abstract

Individuals with HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection may experience substance use related health complications. This study characterized substance use patterns between HIV/HCV co-infected and HIV mono-infected Russian women. HIV-infected women (N = 247; M age = 30.0) in St. Petersburg, Russia, completed a survey assessing substance use, problematic substance use, and the co-occurrence of substance use and sexual behaviors. Covariate adjusted logistic and linear regression analyses indicated that HIV/HCV co-infected participants (57.1 %) reported more lifetime drug use (e.g., heroin: AOR: 13.2, 95 % CI 4.9, 35.3, p < .001), problem drinking (β = 1.2, p = .05), substance use problems (β = 1.3, p = .009), and increased likelihood of past injection drug use (AOR: 26.4, 95 % CI 8.5, 81.9, p < .001) relative to HIV mono-infected individuals. HIV/HCV co-infection was prevalent and associated with increased substance use and problematic drug use. Findings highlight the need for ongoing substance use and HIV/HCV risk behavior assessment and treatment among HIV/HCV co-infected Russian women.

Keywords: HCV; HIV-infected; Problematic substance use; Russian women; Substance use.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Coinfection / complications
  • Coinfection / epidemiology*
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • Hepacivirus
  • Hepatitis C / complications
  • Hepatitis C / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Prevalence
  • Russia / epidemiology
  • Sexual Behavior*
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / complications
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / epidemiology*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / complications
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult