Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #102408

Patricia M. Morse, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, LSU Health Sciences Center, 1542 Tulane Ave., New Orleans, LA 70112, 504.568.6256, pmorse@lsuhsc.edu and Edward V. Morse, PhD, Department of Pediatrics SL-37, Tulane University, 1430 Tulane Ave, New Orleans, LA 70112.

Objective: To examine the differential effects of three HIV and HCV drug use risk reduction interventions for young incarcerated African American IDUs. Methods: As part of a NIDA-funded risk reduction intervention study 211 16-30 year old incarcerated African American IDUs were randomized to one of three intervention arms (counseling and testing (CT), pharmacy syringe purchase (PSP) and a client centered behavioral intervention (CCBI)). HIV, HCV and Chlamydia laboratory data and baseline interview data were compared to parallel data gathered 6 months post incarceration. Results: At baseline, mean age of participants was 24years, 92% were male, all were HIV negative and 46% were HCV positive. Among participants who had shared syringes prior to incarceration 85.7% in the PSP arm, 75% in the CT arm and 73.3% in the CCBI arm reported no longer sharing syringes 6 months post incarceration. Similarly, sharing cookers, cotton, rinse water and backloading were significantly reduced (CCBI-71.4%; 81.8%; 85.7%; 66.7%; PSP-48%; 59.1%; 60%; 68.8%; CT-65.2%; 71.4%; 77.3%; 71.4% respectively) Conclusion: All three interventions were successful in reducing direct and indirect sharing practices. Providing risk reduction interventions to incarcerated IDUs can significantly reduce their high risk injection practices and should be incorporated into jail and prison programs.

Learning Objectives:

• Evaluate the effects of 3 interventions on IDU HIV/HCV risk reduction
• Develop a risk reduction plan for incarcerated IDUs

Keywords: Risk Behavior, Intervention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.