Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Sherry Deren, PhD, Sung-Yeon Kang, PhD, Milton Mino, and Honoria Guarino, PhD. Center for Drug Use and HIV Research, National Development and Research Institutes, 71 West 23rd Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10010, 212-845-4463, sherry.deren@ndri.org

Background: Prior research has shown that among Puerto Rican injection drug users (IDUs) and crack smokers in NY, those who had previously used drugs in Puerto Rico (PR) (where there are fewer risk reduction services) were riskier. This study examined predictors of risk among a sample of migrant Puerto Rican drug users.

Methods: 133 migrant Puerto Rican drug users (who previously used heroin or cocaine in PR) were recruited in NY, through MMTP programs and street-based recruitment. Data were collected on sociodemographic characteristics, drug use history and recent (30 day) HIV risk behaviors. Multivariate analyses were conducted to examine predictors of injection and sex risk behaviors.

Results: The sample was 80% male; mean age of 43. Mean number of years since last used drugs in PR was 13.7 yrs(SD=10.3). Current injection (reported by 38%) was related to being male, being HIV+ and not being in MMTP (all p<.05). Among current IDUs, sharing injection equipment (reported by 33%), was related to: having used drugs more recently in PR (p<.06), being homeless, and using crack (p<.05). Among those sexually active, having unprotected sex (reported by 60%), was related to having education beyond HS; having multiple partners was related to being homeless (all p<.05).

Conclusions: For high risk migrant drug users, enrollment in MMTP and being domiciled were significant predictors of lower risk behaviors. Those who more recently used drugs in a riskier location were riskier. Enhancing outreach services to recent migrant drug users from riskier environments may help reduce HIV risk behaviors.

Learning Objectives:

• List HIV-related risk behaviors of migrant drug users.
• Identify factors related to higher injection and sex-related risk behaviors.
• Discuss services that could assist migrants in reducting risks.

Keywords: HIV Risk Behavior, Migrant Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered