Effect of Violence Exposure on HIV/HCV Risk Behavior Among Young African-American IDUs

Objective: To examine the relationship between violence exposure and HIV/HCV risk-behaviors in a cohort of young African-American IDUs. Methods: 221 young African-American IDUs recruited to participate in a NIDA-funded risk-reduction intervention study were questioned about direct/vicarious violence exposure within six months before their most recent incarceration and direct/vicarious violence exposure in the family in which they grew up. Risk behaviors examined included direct/indirect sharing (syringes, cookers, cotton and/or rinse water) practices and frequency of condom use. Results: Participants (98% male, mean age 24.79 years), reported the following violence exposure: 73% witnessed another threatened by knife/gun, 76% witnessed another beaten, 70% witnessed another beaten severely, 61% witnessed someone killed, 38% were threatened by knife/gun, 17% were beaten, 18% were shot/stabbed/otherwise wounded, 45% witnessed physical fighting among adult family members, 17% actually fought physically with parents, and 46% fought physically with siblings. Participants more likely to report direct/indirect sharing practices were those witnessing someone being beaten (OR 3.46; 95%CI, 1.534-7.812), someone being beaten severely (OR 2.221; 95%CI, 1.132-4.357), someone being killed (OR 1.879; 95%CI, 1.029-3.433), those threatened themselves (OR 1.772; 95%CI, .998-3.146). and those who experienced three + types of violence exposure (OR 2.292; 95%CI, 1.150-4.570). Family violence exposure was not significantly associated with injecting-risk behaviors. Violence exposure was not significantly associated with sexual-risk behavior. Conclusions: The data presented suggest the potential value of addressing the impact of violence on engagement in high-risk health behaviors. Considering these factors in the design/implementation of HIV/HCV prevention programs is important in efforts targeting young IDUs.