High risk sexual behaviours among heroin sniffers who have no history of injection drug use: implications for HIV risk reduction

AIDS Care. 2002 Jun;14(3):391-8. doi: 10.1080/09540120220123793.

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to assess sexual behaviours which place heroin sniffers (HSs) at high risk for HIV infection. A stratified network-based sample was used to recruit HSs who had no history of injection drug use was recruited from the streets of South Florida, USA. HSs displayed a high HIV seroprevalence rate of 12.1%; women (18.1%) were more likely than men (8.7%) to test positive for HIV. Both men and women HSs engaged in considerable high risk sex behaviour, including high risk sex-exchange behaviour. The use of crack cocaine was associated with increased sex exchange behaviour among women. The need for intervention programs targeted toward HSs is discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cocaine-Related Disorders / epidemiology
  • Cocaine-Related Disorders / psychology
  • Crack Cocaine
  • Female
  • Florida / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections / psychology
  • HIV Infections / transmission*
  • Heroin Dependence / epidemiology
  • Heroin Dependence / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Risk-Taking
  • Safe Sex / psychology*
  • Safe Sex / statistics & numerical data

Substances

  • Crack Cocaine