AEGiS-13IAC: HIV risk behaviors among young female injection drug users who have sex with men and women in Baltimore, Maryland.

13th International AIDS Conference

Durban, South Africa - July 9-July 14, 2000

HIV risk behaviors among young female injection drug users who have sex with men and women in Baltimore, Maryland.

Int Conf AIDS 2000 Jul 9-14; 13:(abstract no. WeOrC502)

Ompad D, Fuller C, Latkin C, Vlahov D, Strathdee S
D. Ompad, Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, 1235 East Monument Street, Suite 210, Baltimore, MD 21224, United States, Tel.: +1 410 614 4535, Fax: +1 410 614 7193, E-mail: dompad@jhsph.edu

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have reported that bisexual women have higher rates of sexual and drug use behaviors compared to heterosexual women. We the prevalence of HIV risk factors among young female bisexual injection drug users in Baltimore, Maryland.

METHODS: Adolescent and young adult (age 15-30) female IDU who initiated injection drug use > = 5 years prior were prospectively studied. Drug and sexual risk behaviors were assessed through semi-annual surveys and HCV and HIV antibody testing. Logistic regression was used to identify differences risk behaviors reported at baseline among females who identified bisexual compared to those who did not.

RESULTS: Of the 137 female IDUs studied to date, 75.2% were African American. Median age was 25. Age at initiation of injection was 22 (range 13-30). Prevalence of HCV and HIV was 59.5% and 13.2%, respectively. HCV and HIV co-infection was found in 10.2%. The majority (82.4%) self-identified as heterosexual, 13.2% as bisexual, and 4.4% as lesbian. Bisexual women were more likely to be HIV-infected `OR = 3.21, 95% CI: 0.97, 10.56)', have been raped (OR = 5.93, 95% CI: 2.03, 17.28), have traded sex for money or drugs (OR = 4.15, 95% CI: 1.14, 15.11), have > 2 sex partners of any gender in past 6 months (OR = 10.96, 95% CI: 2.40, 50.00), and report shooting gallery use (OR = 2.81, 95% CI: 0.87, 9.04) compared to women who did not self-identify as bisexual.

CONCLUSIONS: Female bisexual IDUs have multiple risk factors for HIV and sexually transmitted diseases. Further prospective investigation is warranted to investigate causal associations. Drug abuse and HIV counselors should be aware of bisexuality among their clients as a possible marker of multiple HIV risk behaviors.

Keywords: AEGIS, Risk-Taking, HIV Infections, Sex Behavior, Baltimore, HIV Seropositivity, Coitus, Maryland, Bisexuality, Prevalence, Risk Factors, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Sexual Partners, Substance-Related Disorders, Homosexuality, Female, Heterosexuality, Greece, Female, Human, Male, Adolescence, Adult
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