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The Context of HIV Risk Among Drug Users and Their Sexual Partners

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Future Directions for Studies on<br />

the <strong>Context</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>HIV</strong> <strong>Risk</strong><br />

William C. Grace, Robert J. Battjes, <strong>and</strong> Zili Sloboda<br />

<strong>The</strong> purpose <strong>of</strong> research on the context <strong>of</strong> human immunodeficiency virus<br />

(<strong>HIV</strong>) risk behaviors is to underst<strong>and</strong> the myriad factors that influence<br />

<strong>and</strong> determine whether one will engage in risk behaviors. In particular,<br />

underst<strong>and</strong>ing contextual issues in injecting <strong>and</strong> noninjecting drug users<br />

(IDUs), sex partners <strong>of</strong> drug users, <strong>and</strong> special populations such as<br />

women, minorities, <strong>and</strong> gay or bisexual men remains an important<br />

challenge to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) research<br />

community as means <strong>of</strong> preventing <strong>HIV</strong> transmission are sought <strong>and</strong><br />

developed. <strong>The</strong> chapters in this monograph demonstrate that while<br />

important progress in underst<strong>and</strong>ing contextual issues has occurred, much<br />

remains to be understood. Yet, gaps in knowledge were not<br />

unanticipated, <strong>and</strong> comments from the panel reactors, Agar, Des Jarlais,<br />

<strong>and</strong> Robles were specifically solicited to identify <strong>and</strong> address<br />

understudied issues.<br />

This chapter summarizes ideas from a combination <strong>of</strong> sources. <strong>The</strong>se<br />

sources include the reactors’ comments after each <strong>of</strong> the five panels in the<br />

meeting (Heterosexual Males, Women, Men Who Have Sex with Men,<br />

Adolescents, <strong>and</strong> Methodology), discussion sessions throughout the<br />

technical review meeting, <strong>and</strong> ideas developed by this chapter’s authors<br />

upon reflection on the monograph. Because the meeting did not attempt<br />

to develop agreement on issues, this chapter should not be viewed as<br />

reflecting a consensus <strong>of</strong> opinion. <strong>The</strong>mes in the discussions generally<br />

transcended specific population issues. <strong>The</strong>refore, this chapter is not<br />

organized by populations as was the technical review itself, but presents<br />

general research issues <strong>and</strong> opportunities.<br />

MUCH REMAINS TO BE UNDERSTOOD ABOUT THE<br />

CONTEXT OF <strong>HIV</strong> RISK BEHAVIORS<br />

Participants agreed that research on the context <strong>of</strong> <strong>HIV</strong> risk behaviors<br />

remains relatively underdeveloped. Agar summed up much <strong>of</strong> the<br />

difficulty with conducting contextual research when he noted, “It is<br />

difficult to see new things when you are busy counting.” Early research<br />

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