Sung-Yeon Kang, PhD¹, Marjorie F. Goldstein, PhD², and Sherry Deren, PhD¹. (1) National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., 71 West 23rd Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10010, 212-845-4457, Kang@NDRI.org, (2) National Development and Research Institutes, Inc, 71 West 23 Street, 8 Floor, New York, NY 10010

Objectives: To examine the impact of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) on HIV care and sexual health among HIV-positive male drug users. Methods: Male HIV-positive participants (N=153) were recruited in 2002-2003 in New York City. CSA (from the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire) was trichotomized (never; sometimes; often). HIV care was measured by current receipt of highly active antiretroviral therapies (HAART). Sexual health was measured by: ever traded sex for drugs/money; ever had sexually transmitted infections (STI). Results: Sample -52% African-American; 44% Hispanic; 44 mean age; 37% current injector; 32% ever had STI; and 58% any CSA (39% often). CSA was significantly (p<.05) related to receiving HAART (negatively) and trading sex. Only 7% of those who had experienced CSA often took HAART (vs. 28% never; 18% sometimes). Sex trading was most prevalent in those abused sometimes (86%) (vs. 60% never; 67% often). No significant association was found between CSA and STI. In multiple logistic regression analysis, after controlling for age and race, those who had experienced CSA often were less likely than those with no CSA experience to receive HAART (AOR=.21, CI=.07, .69, p<.01); those who had experienced CSA sometimes were more likely than those with no experience to trade sex for drugs/money (AOR=4.23, CI=1.25, 14.36, p<.05). Conclusion: The adverse impact of CSA on HIV care was among those who experienced CSA often. CSA impact on sexual health (e.g., trading sex), however, was most prevalent in those abused sometimes. This differential impact should be incorporated in HIV prevention/treatment programs targeting male drug users.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the high prevalence of sexual abuse experience in childhood among HIV-infected male drug users.
• Define sexual abuse in childhood.
• Develop HIV treatment programs that include specialized therapies for these victims.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Health Care

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.