5th International AIDS Conference


Montreal, Quebec, Canada — Jun 4-9, 1989

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HIV seropositivity in IVDU Vietnam combat veterans.

Int Conf AIDS 1989 Jun 4-9; 5:165 (abstract no. A.525)
Kocurek K, Bacchetti P, Gorter R, Meakin R, Moss AR; University of California, San Francisco, California, USA

OBJECTIVE: To determine the rate of HIV infection in heterosexual military veterans who use intravenous drugs and are seen in methadone treatment facilities.

METHODS: Heterosexual IVDUs attending methadone treatment facilities in San Francisco between February and December 1988 were recruited, screened for military service, and tested for HIV seropositivity. 129 veterans were studied including 34 who were Vietnam combat veterans. 27 subjects were recruited from a Veterans Administration (VA) hospital treatment facility and the remaining 102 from non-VA drug treatment programs.

RESULTS: 0/27 (0%) of veterans screened at a VA drug treatment facility were HIV+ compared with 7/102 (7%) of veterans treated at non-VA programs. 4/34 (12%) Vietnam combat veterans were HIV seropositive, compared with 3/96 (3%) for all other veterans (p=.078). Of the seropositive veterans, four were black, two were Native American, and one was white. Vietnam combat veterans recruited from non-VA facilities had an HIV seropositivity rate of 15% (4/27). For comparison, non-veteran heterosexual IVDUs screened over the same time period had a seropositivity rate of 9%.

CONCLUSIONS: There is a discrepancy in HIV seroprevalence between veterans screened at VA and non-VA drug treatment facilities. The highest prevalence of HIV seropositivity was seen in IVDU Vietnam combat veterans who were not being treated at VA facilities. Larger studies are indicated to assess the significance of HIV infection in this unique population.

Keywords: AEGIS, Veterans, Substance Abuse, Intravenous, HIV Seropositivity, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Military Personnel, Heterosexuality, HIV Infections, Blacks, Health Facilities, San Francisco, ICA5KWDaegis,veterans,substanceabuse,intravenous,hivseropositivity,unitedstatesdepartmentofveteransaffairs,militarypersonnel,heterosexuality,hivinfections,blacks,healthfacilities,sanfrancisco,ica5

890604
A525

Copyright © 1989 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.