Abstract
Washington, DC has among the highest HIV/AIDS rates in the US. Gender differences among injection drug users (IDUs) may be associated with adoption of prevention opportunities including needle exchange programs, HIV testing, psychosocial support, and prevention programming. National HIV Behavioral Surveillance data on current IDUs aged ≥18 were collected from 8/09 to 11/09 via respondent-driven sampling in Washington, DC. HIV status was assessed using oral OraQuick with Western Blot confirmation. Weighted estimates were derived using RDSAT. Stata was used to characterize the sample and differences between male and female IDU, using uni-, bi-, and multivariable methods. Factors associated with HIV risk differed between men and women. Men were more likely than women to have had a history of incarceration (86.6 % vs. 66.8 %, p < 0.01). Women were more likely than men to have depressive symptoms (73.9 % vs. 47.4 %, p < 0.01), to have been physically or emotionally abused (66.1 % vs. 16.1 %, p < 0.0001), to report childhood sexual abuse (42.7 % vs. 4.7 %, p < 0.0001), and pressured or forced to have sex (62.8 % vs. 4.0 %, p < 0.0001); each of these differences was significant in the multivariable analysis. Despite a decreasing HIV/AIDS epidemic among IDU, there remain significant gender differences with women experiencing multiple threats to psychosocial health, which may in turn affect HIV testing, access, care, and drug use. Diverging needs by gender are critical to consider when implementing HIV prevention strategies.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 157-166 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Journal of Urban Health |
| Volume | 90 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 2013 |
Funding
For their assistance and expertise throughout the study, the authors acknowledge Dr. Amanda Castel of GWU SPHHS; Dr. Amy Lansky, Dr. Elizabeth DiNenno, Ms. Tricia Martin, and Dr. Isa Miles of CDC; and the WORD UP Community Advisory Board Members. Interviewers Luz Montanez, Julie Archer, Ashley Clegg, Megan Condrey, Daniel Choi, Keith Egan, and Mariel Marlow. This study could not have been conducted without the enormous support of our many community partners. For their participation in and support of NHBS, the study team would like to acknowledge the participants of the study and the citizens of the District of Columbia, without whom this study would not have been possible. Funding source. This study was funded by District of Columbia, Department of Health/HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD and Tuberculosis Administration (DC DOH/ HAHSTA), Contract Number POHC-2006-C-0030, funded in part by Grant Number PS000966-01, from the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). All co-authors have reviewed and approved of the final draft of the paper including those from DC DOH/HAHSTA. Under the Partnership contract, DC DOH/HAHSTA had the right to review and approve the manuscript. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of DHHS/CDC and responsibility for the content rests solely with the authors.
Keywords
- Behavioral surveillance
- Gender
- HIV/AIDS
- HIV/AIDS prevention
- IDU
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Health(social science)
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Urban Studies
