Dual HIV risk: receptive syringe sharing and unprotected sex among HIV-negative injection drug users in New York City

AIDS Behav. 2013 Sep;17(7):2501-9. doi: 10.1007/s10461-013-0496-y.

Abstract

HIV-negative injection drug users (IDUs) who engage in both receptive syringe sharing and unprotected sex ("dual HIV risk") are at high risk of HIV infection. In a cross-sectional study conducted in New York City in 2009, active IDUs aged ≥18 years were recruited using respondent-driven sampling, interviewed, and tested for HIV. Participants who tested HIV-negative and did not self-report as positive were analyzed (N = 439). Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CI) were estimated using multinomial logistic regression. The sample was: 77.7 % male; 54.4 % Hispanic, 36.9 % white, and 8.7 % African-American/black. Dual risk was engaged in by 26.2 %, receptive syringe sharing only by 3.2 %, unprotected sex only by 49.4 %, and neither by 21.2 %. Variables independently associated with engaging in dual risk versus neither included Hispanic ethnicity (vs. white) (aOR = 2.0, 95 % CI = 1.0-4.0), married or cohabiting (aOR = 6.3, 95 % CI = 2.5-15.9), homelessness (aOR = 3.4, 95 % CI = 1.6-7.1), ≥2 sex partners (aOR = 8.7, 95 % CI = 4.4-17.3), ≥2 injecting partners (aOR = 2.9, 95 % CI = 1.5-5.8), and using only sterile syringe sources (protective) (aOR = 0.5, 95 % CI = 0.2-0.9). A majority of IDUs engaged in HIV risk behaviors, and a quarter in dual risk. Interventions among IDUs should simultaneously promote the consistent use of sterile syringes and of condoms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • HIV Infections / transmission*
  • HIV Seronegativity*
  • HIV Seropositivity / epidemiology
  • HIV Seropositivity / transmission
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Needle Sharing / statistics & numerical data*
  • New York City
  • Odds Ratio
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / complications*
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / epidemiology*
  • Unsafe Sex / statistics & numerical data*
  • Urban Population / statistics & numerical data*
  • Young Adult