5th International AIDS Conference Montreal, Quebec, Canada — Jun 4-9, 1989

Int Conf AIDS 1989 Jun 4-9; 5:161 (abstract no. A.505)

Gorbea HF¹, Garcia ME^2
1University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA; ²Veterans Administration Medical Center, Puerto Rico, USA

OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of HIV infection among drug users (DU) in a drug treatment program in Puerto Rico (PR).

METHODS: DU voluntarily agreed to participate in the study. Information concerning drug use, sexual and medical history was obtained. A screening test (EIA) and supplemental test (Western blot or IFA) were used to determine HIV antibody status.

RESULTS: In 1987 and 1988 a total of 125 ambulatory and asymptomatic DU were tested. Mean age was 36 year-old (range: 24-64) and the mean duration of drug use was 11 years. There were 108 intravenous drug users (IVDU) and 17 non-intravenous drug users (NIVDU). Results are as follows:

Of the 105 heterosexual IVDU 42 (40%) were seropositive. Drug used by IVDU was reported as follows: heroin and cocaine (76%), heroin (22%), and cocaine (12%).

CONCLUSION: IVDU in PR are among those at greatest risk for HIV infection. Effective programs to reduce risk are urgently needed.

Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Communicable Diseases, HIV Infections, Humans, Prevalence, Puerto Rico, Substance Abuse, Intravenous, Substance-Related Disorders, epidemiology, organization & administration

1989-06-04
A505

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