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

Abstract #116311

Michele G. Shedlin, PhD¹, Rita Arauz, MA, MPH², Pascual Ortells, BS², Mariana Aburto, MPH², Danilo Norori², and Sherry Deren, PhD³. (1) College of Health Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, 1101 N. Campbell St., Rm. 716, El Paso, TX 79902, 915-747-7233, Mshedlin@aol.com, (2) Nimehuatzin Foundation, P.O. Box A-262, Managua, Nicaragua, (3) Institute for AIDS Research, National Development & Research Institutes, 71 West 23 St. 8th fl., New York, NY 10010

This paper presents the results of an exploratory, qualitative study on drug use and HIV risk conducted in Managua, Nicaragua between 2002-2004. The objectives of research were to: identify methods of reaching drug using populations in the country; provide an initial description of the patterns of drug use; explore the relationship between drug use and HIV transmission; and provide preliminary recommendations for the development of drug use and HIV prevention efforts and for future research directions. The study design included ethnographic observation and interviews to assist in gaining entry into drug-using communities, in-depth interviews with drug users and traffickers and focus groups with sectors of the population likely to provide different perspectives on the research domains. This paper presents the data relating to female sex workers in Managua and Chinandega gathered in 2003-5, and examines the reported change in the risk environment and the womens' HIV sexual and drug HIV risk behaviors by comparing data from a prior study carried out by the research team in 1995-6.Focus groups and individual interviews illustrate dramatic changes in drug use and related risk behaviors since the initial study, primarily due to the introduction and marketing of crack cocaine. Conclusions highlight the need for public and policy acknowledgement and response regarding drug use, and the link between HIV/AIDS and drugs for these women in Nicaragua and the region. Recommendations are made for gender and lifestyle- appropriate interventions.

Learning Objectives:

• identify individual and contextual factors affecting high risk behavior of women in Nicaragua
• understand the dynamics of increasing drug use and HIV risk for women in two areas of the country
• identify a number of gender and lifestyle appropriate interventions which have been implemented and/ or suggested

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