The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #44397

Sherry Deren, PhD¹, Sung-Yeon Kang, PhD¹, Jonny Andia, PhD¹, Hector M. Colon, PhD², and Rafaela Robles, EdD³. (1) National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., 71 West 23rd Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10010, 212-845-4463, Deren@NDRI.org, (2) Center for Addiction Studies, Universidad Central del Caribe, PO Box 60327, Bayamon, PR 00960-6032, (3) Center for Addiction Studies, School of Medicine, Universidad Central del Caribe, PO Box 60327, Bayamon, PR 00960-6032

Objectives: To examine the mobility patterns between New York and Puerto Rico and their relationship to HIV risk behaviors among drug users.Methods: Puerto Rican injection drug users (IDUs) and crack smokers (CSs) recruited in East Harlem, NY (n=204) and Bayamon, PR (n=137) were asked about lifetime residential history, trips (during prior 3 years) and HIV-related risk behaviors (during prior 30 days). NY sample: 67% male, average age 41; PR sample: 78% male, average age 37. Results: In NY sample, 47% were born in PR, an additional 14% had resided there. In PR sample, 12% were born in the US, an additional 27% had lived there (primarily NY). During the prior 3 years, 12% of the NY sample visited PR; 31% traveled out of NYC. For the PR sample, 2% had visited NY; 8% traveled out of PR. Among IDUs in NY(n=79), 33% shared injection equipment, with more sharing among those who traveled outside NYC (50% vs 26%, p<.05). For total NY sample, 32% reported unprotected sex, no significant difference by mobility status. Among IDUs in PR (n=88), 60% shared injection equipment, with a trend (p<.10) for more sharing among those who lived or visited outside PR (71% vs 52%, 88% vs 57%, respectively). For total PR sample, 28% reported unprotected sex, higher for those who had resided outside PR (40% vs 20%, p<.01). Conclusions: Mobile drug users engaged in higher risk behaviors, indicating the need for HIV prevention efforts targeting mobile populations.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify mobility patterns of drug users in New York and Puerto Rico
• Articulate HIV risk behaviors that are related to mobility patterns
• Develop a plan for HIV interventions targeting mobile populations of drug users

Keywords: Drug Injectors, Hispanic

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.