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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Sung-Yeon Kang, PhD, Sherry Deren, PhD, and Marjorie F. Goldstein, PhD. Center for Drug Use and HIV Research, National Development and Research Institutes, 71 West 23rd Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10010, (212) 845-4457, kang@ndri.org

Objective: To examine gender differences in HIV-related symptoms and HIV care among HIV-positive African-American and Hispanic drug injectors.

Methods: HIV-positive male (N=93) and female (N=41) drug abusers who have ever injected were recruited in 2002-2003 in NYC. A broad array of factors, including demographic background, childhood abuse experience, drug use and treatment, HIV care, and health status (including HIV-related symptoms) were compared by gender, using chi-square tests and t-tests. HIV-related symptoms and use of HIV medications were used as dependent variables in multivariate analyses, using gender as a predictor.

Results: 69% male; mean age=44.8. Significant differences between males and females were found (respectively) in: > HS Grad/GED (52%, 32%); current IDU (58%, 32%); close relationships with family (81%, 63%); ever used alcohol to intoxication (68%, 46%); current use of crack (52%, 71%); HIV symptoms (0.29, 0.38); and attendance at HIV support group (73%, 55%). Men and women did not differ in use of HIV medications (43%, 37%) and drug treatment enrollment (62%, 73%). In multivariate analyses, gender was independently related to HIV-related symptoms (female reported more). Use of HIV medication was significantly related to being married, childhood sexual abuse (negatively), and enrollment in an HIV clinic.

Conclusions: Significant differences were found by gender in health related variables. Interventions to enhance social support for women, and to address issues related to childhood sexual abuse, may help enhance health status.

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