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

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found in this study was low socioeconomic status; those at the lower end<br />

<strong>of</strong> the socioeconomic scale <strong>and</strong> those needing housing engaged in more<br />

sharing.<br />

<strong>Drug</strong> use was the best predictor <strong>of</strong> harm reduction in that those who<br />

reported a low level <strong>of</strong> drug use engaged in high levels <strong>of</strong> harm reduction<br />

<strong>and</strong> vice versa. In other words, a low incidence <strong>of</strong> drug use was a<br />

protective factor against <strong>HIV</strong> transmission risk for the women in this<br />

study.<br />

AIDS awareness was related to harm reduction. Female drug users living<br />

with their sexual partners <strong>and</strong> having stable housing <strong>and</strong> living<br />

arrangements reported high levels <strong>of</strong> AIDS awareness <strong>and</strong> were less<br />

likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors. Another protective factor<br />

discovered was that <strong>of</strong> treatment for drug abuse in that it engendered safer<br />

practices both with regard to sexual activity <strong>and</strong> drugs.<br />

<strong>The</strong> lack <strong>of</strong> reporting the exact number <strong>of</strong> women subjects in the study<br />

leaves an opening for challenging gender-specific results. Also, the<br />

reporting could have been strengthened by providing more details on the<br />

reliability <strong>and</strong> validity <strong>of</strong> the data collection instrument. However, the<br />

study demonstrated the utility <strong>of</strong> applying statistical models <strong>and</strong> analyses<br />

through LISREL to identify variables contributing to risk <strong>of</strong> <strong>HIV</strong><br />

transmission among female drug users. An important finding in this<br />

study is the impact <strong>of</strong> drug abuse treatment on high-risk behaviors.<br />

Researchers found that treatment engendered safer practices with regard<br />

to sexual activity <strong>and</strong> drugs. More treatment was reported by older<br />

female IVDUs <strong>and</strong> those cohabiting with sexual partners.<br />

This study by Frischer <strong>and</strong> colleagues (1993) revealed behaviors <strong>and</strong><br />

attributes that contribute to high-risk behaviors for <strong>HIV</strong> transmission <strong>and</strong><br />

provided some information about the context in which such behaviors<br />

occur.<br />

Kang <strong>and</strong> De Leon (1993) reported on a study <strong>of</strong> correlates <strong>of</strong> drug<br />

injection among 152 methadone outpatients; 39 percent (59) <strong>of</strong> the<br />

subjects were female. Data were gathered on sociodemographic<br />

background, drug use <strong>and</strong> treatment history, needle use behavior, sexual<br />

behavior, medical status, criminal history, <strong>and</strong> psychiatric/psychological<br />

status. Correlation coefficients were used to examine relationships<br />

between variables, <strong>and</strong> discriminant analysis was used to explore<br />

predictors <strong>of</strong> classification <strong>of</strong> high- or low-risk behaviors. High levels <strong>of</strong><br />

54

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