Background and Methods: We analyzed HIV/AIDS surveillance data from 25 states with HIV reporting since before ’94 to identify current trends among injecting drug users aged 13-25 (YIDUs) initially diagnosed with HIV and reported through 9/99, adjusted for reporting delay and for persons reported without HIV risk information. We used race/ethnicity and sex specific census data to calculate rates.
Results: Of the 22950 cases diagnosed among IDUs from ’94-‘98, 1817 (7.9%) were among YIDUs; the proportion of YIDUs remained relatively unchanged (7.6-8.6). The overall and race- and gender-specific rates decreased from ’94-’97. The number of cases declined 32% overall from ’94 to ’98 with declines of 32%, 23% and 58% among Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics. Rates were higher among Blacks and Hispanics than Whites each year; in ‘98, rates among Blacks and Hispanics were 10.4 and 3.6 times higher than among Whites. Rates were higher among women than men in all years. The yearly number of cases (0-129) and changes in cases from ’94 to ’98 (-160% to 80%) varied by state. Most cases were reported from metropolitan areas with population over 500,000. Urban areas registered declines; the number of cases in rural areas remained unchanged.
Conclusions: Declines in the number of HIV diagnoses among YIDUs from ‘94 to ’98 are consistent with reports from serologic surveys of declines in incidence and seroprevalence among YIDUs. Further declines in HIV infections will require intensified and culturally appropriate prevention efforts targeted at Blacks and Hispanics in large metropolitan areas of selected states.
Learning Objectives: Understand the current status of and trend in the HIV epidemic among Injecting Drug Users, 25 HIV reporting states, United States, 1994-98
Keywords: Injection Drug Users, HIV/AIDS
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.