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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Jesus Sanchez, PhD¹, Juan Moreiras, MD, MPH¹, Dale Chitwood, PhD², and Dixie Koo, PhD³. (1) Robert Stempel School of Public Health, Florida International University, 11200 S.W. 8th Street, HLS II 574, Miami, FL 33199, 305-348-1811, Jesus.Sanchez@fiu.edu, (2) Sociology, University of Miami, Sociology Research Center, 5665 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables, FL 33146, (3) Criminology, California State University Fullerton, Sociology Research Center, 5665 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables, FL 33146

Epidemiologic studies indicate that prevalence of HIV, HBV, and HCV is high among injection drugs users (IDUs) as a result of the risk behaviors the engage in such as unprotected sex and sharing of needles, syringes, and other injection paraphernalia. Although the prevalence of these infectious diseases is a serious health problem among IDUs, sparse information is available on the prevalence of HIV, HBV, and HCV among Hispanic IDUs among which prevention and intervention strategies have had a limited impact. This paper assesses the prevalence of HIV, HBV, and HCV and related risk factors within a non-institutional sample of Hispanic IDUs recruited in the streets of Miami-Dade County, Florida. This study started fieldwork in February 2005 and is still being carried out. Participants recruited through street outreach were eligible if they reported injecting drugs on a weekly basis during the previous 6 months, were 18 years of age or older, and were of Hispanic origin. Among the 113 respondents already enrolled in the study, 12.8% tested positive for HIV, 64.6% tested positive for serologic evidence of exposure to HBV, and 84.1% tested positive for serologic evidence of exposure to HCV. Only 13 study participants (11.5%) did not test positive for at least one of these viral infections. Less than one-quarter (23.4%) of study participants reported having any type of health insurance while slightly more than one-quarter (28.3%) reported having received healthcare within the last 3 months prior to baseline interview.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Recognize the prevalence rates of HIV and Hepatitis C among Hispanic IDUs in South Florida.
• List risk factors associated with HIV and Hepatitis C infection among Hispanic IDUs.
• Assess cultural factors that prevent current prevention and intervention strategies from being successful among Hispanic IDUs.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, HIV Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered