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

Abstract #103907

Adi Jaffe, BA¹, Dennis G. Fisher, PhD¹, Grace L. Reynolds, DPA¹, Mario J. Perez², Charles L. Henry, JD², and Nettie DeAugustine, BS³. (1) Center for Behavioral Research & Services, California State University, Long Beach, 1090 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90813, 562-495-2330, adijaffe@hotmail.com, (2) Office of AIDS Program and Policy (OAPP), Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, 600 S. Commonwealth Avenue, 6th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90005, (3) Preventive Health Bureau/STD Clinic, City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, 2525 Grand Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90815

Objectives: To examine the association of lifetime, as well as recent, use of amphetamine with HIV, and other STIs, as well as risky sexual behaviors (RSBs). Methods: 1589 participants were recruited from HIV prevention and testing programs in Long Beach, California. Recruitment extended to western Los Angeles County. Participants completed the Risk Behavior Assessment (RBA), which was used to collect demographic, drug use, sexual behavior, and sexually transmitted infections data. Results: Lifetime use of amphetamines was found to be associated with previous report of HIV+, χ² (1, N = 1453) = 10.43, p < .01, and Chlamydia, Χ² (1, N = 1589) = 8.20, p < .01. Recent (i.e. within the past 30 days) use of amphetamines was also associated with previous report of HIV infection, Χ² (1, N = 1474) = 5.71, p < .05, as well as Gonorrhea, Χ² (1, N = 1641) = 4.91, p < .05. ANOVA analyses revealed main effects of gender and sexual orientation as well as gender x recent amphetamine use interaction on frequency of RSBs (e.g. trading sex for money and drugs). Conclusions: A strong association was found between use of amphetamines and self-reported HIV infection. Amphetamine use was also found to be associated with Chlamydia and Gonorrhea infections as well as with a number of risky sexual behaviors that contribute to higher infection prevalence. Interventions should target such behaviors along with substance use reduction in order to reduce future incidence rates.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify a number of sexually transmitted infections associated with amphetamine use.
• Recognize a number of other correlates of amphetamine use such as use of other illicit substances and specific risky sexual behaviors.
• Discuss appropriate directions for the development of future intreventions.

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.