6th International AIDS Conference San Francisco, California, USA — June 20-23, 1990

Int Conf AIDS 1990 Jun 20-23; 6:347 (abstract no. Th.D.885)
Kegebein VJ, Zack B; Santa Clara County Health Department, San Jose, CA, USA

OBJECTIVE: To determine predictors of interest in HIV antibody testing in inmates with histories of IV drug use following educational interventions.

METHODS: We measured interest in HIV antibody testing among male inmates with histories of IV drug use in 1 state and 2 county penal institutions in California following exposure to a standardized educational intervention (AIDS education video, group discussion). Predictor variables were perceived risk, needle sharing, knowledge of a person with AIDS, and demographics. The outcome variable, interest in HIV antibody testing, was dichotomous.

RESULTS: Of the 712 inmates exposed to the education intervention, 299 (42%) had histories of intravenous drug use, and of the 299, 221 (74%) had shared needles in the past. In the univariate analysis, variables which predicted interest in HIV antibody testing among IVDU inmates were history of ever sharing needles (p less than .001), perceived risk of AIDS (p less than .001), and white or Latino race (p less than .001). In multivariate analysis, the variable most predictive of interest in HIV antibody testing was sharing needles (r2 = .026).

CONCLUSIONS: Inmates who report histories of needle sharing were more likely to be interested in HIV antibody testing and counseling than other inmates in these settings. This suggests that health educators may be able to predict which inmates will and will not respond to this intervention and can help them pre-select inmates in need of more intensive interventions.

900620
ThD885

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