Predictors of HIV-related high-risk sexual behaviors among female substance users

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to explore predictors of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related risky sexual behaviors among women with substance use. A total of 150 women were selected from harm reduction centers in Tehran, Iran, and completed the risk behavior assessment, the Beck depression inventory, the revised self-efficacy scale, and the peer group beliefs regarding HIV-related risk behaviors scale. The results showed that age (β = −.07, P ˂ .01) and exchange of sex for drugs or money (β = 3.34, P ˂ .001) were significant predictors of whether women had multiple sex partners. Moreover, depression (β = .06, P ˂ .05), exchange of sex for drugs or money (β = 1.42, P ˂ .01), and self-efficacy (β = −.19, P ˂ .001) significantly predicted unprotected sex among women with substance use. Accordingly, providing female substance users with harm reduction services and developing HIV prevention programs are likely to decrease high-risk sexual behaviors and consequent HIV infection within this vulnerable group.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV/AIDS
• risky sexual behaviors
• substance use
• women

Acknowledgment

The authors thank Julia Knight, Yale JD/MBA candidate, for language edit of the final version of this manuscript.

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest

The authors report no sources of funding or conflicts of interest to report.