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

Abstract #115526

Larry M. Gant, CSW, PhD, School of Social Work, University of Michigan, 1080 S. University, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, 734-763-5990, Lmgant@umich.edu

Little information is available on the impact of economic status and maintenance of risk behavior among populations at risk in the United States. African-American women represent a population at extreme risk for HIV infection. We report data from 106 African-American female participants of a social cognitive intervention in residential drug treatment programs in Detroit.

Forty-four percent were 40-59 years old; most were single (n=83, 69%) with nearly half (45%) with less than a 12th grade education. Most received public insurance – a proxy for financial circumstances (67%, n=76).

Pretreatment associations were reported for women using crack cocaine with multiple sex partners (χ2 = 17.4, p<.001), less condom use (χ2 = 11.7, p<.001); exchanging sex for money, drugs or gifts (χ2 = 34.2 p<.001); having sex while using substances (χ2 = 11.1, p<.001), oral sex (χ2 = 6.7, p<.01), anal sex (χ2 = 6.0, p<.01), and sex with injection drug users (IDU) (χ2 = 6.5, p<.01). Alcohol, marijuana, cocaine and heroin use were related to fewer risky behaviors.

Six month post-tests showed maintained declines for most of the sample. One third reported no change in economic status. Here, cocaine use predicted involvement in multiple partners, sex for money, drugs or gifts, having sex while using substances and sex with IDUs. Marijuana, crack or alcohol use predicted sex exchange for money, drugs, or gifts or sex while using substances. The intersections of economy, employment, and relapse behaviors for women of color are warranted and should be discussed in future interventions.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the presentation, the participant will be able to (
• understand the effects of economic hardship in changing patterns of risky drug and sex behavior among African-American women; (
• understand the importance of examining pattern shifts in outcomes versus examination of aggregate behavioral changes at two points in time; and (
• understand the relationship of economic status/hardship and probability of sex and drug related behavioral relapse post-intervention for African-American women who are either active drug users or in recovery.

Keywords: Drug Use Variation, Sexual Risk Behavior

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.

Recorded presentation