AEGiS-14IAC: The effect of family embeddedness in reducing drug injection and HIV risk behaviors among Hispanic drug injectors.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

The effect of family embeddedness in reducing drug injection and HIV risk behaviors among Hispanic drug injectors.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. D11131)

Robles RR, Reyes JC, Matos TD, Colon HM, Marrero CA, Finlinson HA
Center for Addiction Studies, School of Medicine, Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamon, Puerto Rico, United States Territory

BACKGROUND: Systematic intervention of Hispanic families of drug injectors that addresses HIV risk and HIV infections is almost non-existent despite the central role ascribed to this type of family in controlling their members' behaviors through cohesion, embeddedness and dependence. The present study aimed to examine the effect of family embeddedness in an intervention model to reduce drug injection and HIV risk behaviors among drug injectors in Puerto Rico.

METHODS: Five hundred thirty six (536) drug injectors recruited in rural communities were randomized to an experimental group (49.7%) or to a control group (50.3%). This paper reports findings of 440 drug injectors (82.1%) at follow up, 6 months after the base line. The sample was comprised mainly of males (90.2%); 12.4% were HIV positive; 31.5% were diagnosed with severe depression; and 37.7% entered drug treatment.

RESULTS: Drug injectors that reported family embeddedness were less likely to engage in backloading, share cotton and stop injecting drugs than those that did not report family embeddedness. Participants in the experimental model that reported family embeddedness were less likely to pool money and stop injecting. Controlling for sex, age, HIV status and drug treatment, the regression model shows that family embeddedness (OR = 0.45; 95% CI = 0.25 - 0.80) and participation in the intervention model (OR = 0.56; 95% CI = 0.34 - 0.94) were effective in stopping drug injection.

CONCLUSIONS: The family as a significant HIV prevention resource of the Hispanic community needs to be used to stop HIV risk behaviors and arrest the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Keywords: AEGIS, Risk-Taking, Hispanic Americans, HIV Infections, Substance Abuse, Intravenous, HIV Seropositivity, Puerto Rico, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Family, Human, Male

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D11131