Prevalence and correlates of risky sexual behaviors among injection drug users in Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to describe prevalence and correlates of sexual risk behaviors among injection drug users (IDUs) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Participants in this cross-sectional study completed a questionnaire detailing sociodemographic, medical and drug and sexual risk behaviors and HIV antibody testing. Of 701 IDUs surveyed, only 20.5% reported consistent condom use, which was more likely for women. Prior sexually-transmitted infection (STI) diagnosis was reported by 36.2% of participants and was associated with early (≤18 years) drug initiation, group drug use, being older, higher educational level, marriage, needle sharing, multiple sex partners in the preceding month and daily injection use. Having multiple partners in the preceding month was common (29.71%) and related to employment, consistent condom use with regular partners and STI self-treatment in multivariate logistic regression. Participants with a history of sharing needles were less likely to have had multiple partners in the previous month. Risky sexual behaviors are common and interrelated with risky injection habits among IDUs in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, representing a continued threat of infection with HIV and other blood-borne agents.

Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Adkham Mamatkulov and Mr. Ilkhom Kasymov for their assistance with study conduction, as well as Ms. Oksana Subotova for translation and data entry assistance. We particularly thank the outreach workers and participants for their trust and time. The opinions and assertions made by the authors do not reflect the official position or opinion of the US Department of the Navy or Army, of the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., or of the respective in-country National HIV/AIDS Control Programs and other Non-Governmental Organizations. This study was supported by the US Military HIV Research Program (USMHRP) at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), and by the US Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC), Silver Spring, MD, Protocol number # CPHS #130, DOD# NAMRU-3.2002.013).

Dr Todd is grateful for the support of the Fogarty International Center of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (K01TW007408).