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

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Factors Associated With Poverty<br />

A number <strong>of</strong> aspects <strong>of</strong> poverty affect the ability <strong>of</strong> women to protect<br />

themselves. <strong>The</strong>se include enhanced risk for drug addiction, high<br />

prevalence <strong>of</strong> sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), <strong>and</strong> competing life<br />

concerns. Poverty also contributes to economic dependence <strong>of</strong> some<br />

women on their partners (Airhihenbuwa et al. 1992); relationship factors<br />

contributing to risk are the topic <strong>of</strong> the next section.<br />

Poverty <strong>and</strong> the pain that accompanies it contribute to the use <strong>of</strong><br />

psychotropic drugs, including heroin, crack <strong>and</strong> other forms <strong>of</strong> cocaine,<br />

<strong>and</strong> alcohol. Injection <strong>of</strong> drugs created the initial vector for <strong>HIV</strong><br />

infection in the inner city. Further, use <strong>of</strong> psychotropic substances<br />

militates against people’s ability to practice safer sexual behaviors (Leigh<br />

<strong>and</strong> Stall 1993). One reason for this relationship may be the clouding <strong>of</strong><br />

judgment that occurs when people are under the influence <strong>of</strong> such<br />

substances; another is that addicted women <strong>of</strong>ten exchange sex for the<br />

drug that they need (Corby et al. 1991). Female partners <strong>of</strong> IDUs report<br />

high levels <strong>of</strong> use <strong>of</strong> illegal drugs <strong>and</strong> alcohol (Corby et al. 1991;<br />

Weissman et al. 1991) <strong>and</strong> concomitantly high levels <strong>of</strong> sexual risk<br />

(Brown <strong>and</strong> Weissman, in press). However, it should be noted that one<br />

study found that exchanging sex for drugs was not associated with higher<br />

sexual risk for women (Brown <strong>and</strong> Weissman, in press).<br />

Another aspect <strong>of</strong> inner-city life that contributes to AIDS risk for its<br />

female inhabitants is the high prevalence <strong>of</strong> other STDs that are endemic<br />

to these areas. Diseases such as syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, pelvic<br />

inflammatory disease, human papillomavirus, <strong>and</strong> chancroid are severe<br />

epidemics in the inner city (Aral <strong>and</strong> Holmes 1991; Hatcher et al. 1990;<br />

Hayes 1987; H<strong>of</strong>ferth <strong>and</strong> Hayes 1987; Rothenberg 1991). Populations<br />

with higher rates <strong>of</strong> STDs are at increased risk for <strong>HIV</strong> infection. <strong>The</strong><br />

risks <strong>of</strong> STDs <strong>and</strong> <strong>HIV</strong> are similar because both are caused by<br />

unprotected sexual activity. In addition, the presence <strong>of</strong> an STD <strong>and</strong><br />

associated lesions may facilitate transmission <strong>of</strong> <strong>HIV</strong>.<br />

It has been posited that the burdened, crisis-driven lifestyle frequently<br />

associated with poverty may contribute to AIDS risk by displacing <strong>HIV</strong><br />

infection among the list <strong>of</strong> concerns on peoples’ minds (Amaro 1988;<br />

Guarnaccia et al. 1989; Marin <strong>and</strong> Marin 1991; Nyamathi <strong>and</strong> Vasquez<br />

1989). Indeed, results from a recent study support this notion in that the<br />

female respondents listed AIDS below several other life problems in<br />

seriousness (Kalichman et al. 1992). In a study <strong>of</strong> IDUs, residential<br />

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