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

Abstract #118520

Mary Latka, PhD¹, Sharon Hudson, PhD², Elizabeth T. Golub, PhD, MPH³, Hanne Thiede, DVM, MPH⁴, Susan L. Bailey, PhD⁵, Farzana Kapadia, MPH¹, and Richard S. Garfein, PhD, MPH⁶. (1) Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10029, 212-822-7284, mlatka@nyam.org, (2) Health Research Association, 1111 N. Las Palmas Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90038, (3) Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 627 N. Washington Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, (4) HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Program, Public Health - Seattle & King County, 106 Prefontaine Place South, Seattle, WA 98104, (5) Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1601 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60612, (6) Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Division of International Health and Cross Cultural Medicine, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, 9500 Gilman Drive, Mailstop 0622, San Diego, CA 92093

Objective: To identify characteristics of IDUs who reduced HIV risk subsequent to a 6-session, small-group prevention program. Methods: Among those in the experimental arm, baseline demographic, psychological and substances use characteristics; and HIV/HCV-related attitudes, self-efficacy, knowledge, norms and vulnerability were evaluated for associations with post-intervention risk reduction. The outcome was defined as >10% reduction from baseline in proportion of unprotected vaginal/anal sex with main partner, syringe, or paraphernalia sharing (any vs. none) at 3- and 6-months post-intervention. Those who entered the study with risky behavior (regardless of subsequent change) tended to be more similar than different, and were distinct from those who remained safe throughout. We compared risk reducers with those who remained risky. Results: Regarding paraphernalia sharing at 3-months, in multivariate analysis risk reducers (n=89) [(vs. those who remained risky n=107)] were older [OR(95% CI) 2.20 (1.19-4.07)], more likely to oppose syringe sharing [(2.53 (1.27-5.04)] and reported less psychological distress [0.53 (0.28-1.02)]. These characteristics did not predict risk reduction at 6-months. None of the examined variables predicted sexual or syringe risk reduction at 3- or 6-months and while the sample size was modest, point estimates between comparison groups were similar. Conclusion: Older age, beliefs about syringe sharing and psychological distress may herald risk reduction. Given the extensive search, yet few characteristics identified, the null findings suggest that the intervention is appropriate for a broad spectrum of risky IDUs. Alternatively, syringe and sexual risk reduction may have been influenced by factors that preceded, or were unmeasured by, this study.

Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to

• Identify profiles of injection drug users (IDUs) who may be most likely to respond to an HIV prevention 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 commertial supporters WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CDC Grantee.

Recorded presentation