Association of educational attainment with HIV risk in African American active injection drug users

Abstract

This study explored the association between educational attainment and HIV/AIDS risk among African American active injection drug users (IDUs) in Chicago, US. Using snowball sampling techniques, 813 African American active IDUs were recruited for semi-structured interviewing and HIV counseling, testing and partner notification. Logistic regression examined the relationship between level of education attained (three categories: less than high school; equivalent to high school; and greater than high school) and HIV risk behaviors (12 unsafe sex and drug-related practices) and HIV serostatus (positive or negative). Compared with the reference category (less than high school education), those with education equal to high school were less likely to share water, p = 0.044, OR = 0.70 (95%CI: 0.50–0.99). Compared with the reference category, those with education greater than high school were less likely to receive money for sex, p = 0.048, OR = 0.62 (95%CI: 0.38–0.99); share needles with person having HIV or AIDS, p = 0.015, OR = 0.58 (95%CI: 0.37–0.90); and test positive for HIV, p = 0.027, OR = 0.58 (95%CI: 0.36–0.94). The significant associations found between educational attainment and certain HIV risk behaviors and HIV serostatus have implications for tailoring HIV prevention efforts for less educated African American IDUs.

Acknowledgments

Support for this research was provided by the National Institute of Drug Abuse (R01 DA09231). During the period of this study, the first author was partially supported through a fellowship from the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Educational Foundation. Findings from an earlier version of this study were presented at the XV International AIDS Conference in July 2004 at Bangkok, Thailand.