Predictors of HIV sex risk behavior among women in US drug treatment programs: NIDA CTN trial results

Abstract

HIV prevention for women with substance use disorders is a public health priority. To identify characteristics associated with sexual risk among women in outpatient substance abuse treatment we categorized 809 screened women into three groups: (1) sexually inactive, (2) sexually active with consistent condom use, and (3) sexually active with inconsistent condom use. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to examine demographics, substance use and treatment characteristics, and regional HIV seroprevalence as predictors of sexual risk behavior. Younger age and attending psychosocial (PS) treatment were significantly associated with being at higher HIV risk. HIV prevention should be tailored to address HIV risk in younger women in PS treatment.

Keywords:

• condom use
• drug use
• HIV prevalence region
• HIV risk behavior
• women

Disclosure statement

Dr. Nunes has received medication for research studies from Alkermes/Cephalon, Duramed Pharmaceuticals, and Reckitt-Benckiser. The other authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN), U10 DA13035 (PIs: Nunes, Rotrosen), and NIDA K24 DA022412 (PI: Nunes).