This research characterizes HIV risk and protective behaviors among homeless, young adults who are either injection drug users (IDUs) and/or the sexual partners of IDUs by exploring complex gender-specific circumstances that influence risk and protective behaviors and by understanding the contexts in which needle use and sexual encounters take place. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods are employed to gain an understanding of the contexts in which young adults inject drugs and identify common and gender-specific behavior that puts them at risk or protects them from HIV infection. Approximately 200 youth will be recruited using a combination of stratified probability and snowball sampling techniques. In turn, these youth will be asked to refer their sexual partners, needle sharing partners, and two best friends which will bring the overall sample size to approximately 330. Survey constructs include relationship types, peer norms, peer information exchange, peer social support, decision making/power, IDU behaviors, sexual risk and protective behaviors, and other information about respondents’ social network. This research is important for its ability to characterize: 1) gender-specific differences in the emotional, familial, interpersonal, and socio-environmental contexts where risk behaviors occur, 2) the nature of these youths’ social networks and their affiliation with peer groups, and 3) the influence of sexual relations on injection drug-related HIV risk of homeless, young adults.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to: 1. Describe the characteristics of the respondents’ social networks, including relationships, perceptions of HIV risk behaviors, and injection drug use. 2. Describe the respondent’s injection drug-related HIV risk, and how this is related to the characteristics of their social networks. 3. Describe how the respondents’ current and historical sexual relations are related to their injection drug-related HIV risk, and whether this relationship is mediated by the characteristics of their social networks
Keywords: Homeless, Network Analysis
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.