Social and individual risk determinants of HIV testing practices among noninjection drug users at high risk for HIV/AIDS

Abstract

HIV testing services and research among drug users has largely focused on injection drug users (IDUs); yet noninjection drug users (NIDUs) are also at increased risk for HIV due to high-risk sexual behaviors and overlapping networks with IDUs. This study examined drug use, sexual risk, and social network characteristics associated with recent HIV testing (testing within past year) among NIDUs. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were conducted among 418 NIDUs and log-binomial regression models were used to identify correlates of recent HIV testing. Prevalence ratios (PR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported. Nearly 97% of NIDUs reported having ever been tested for HIV and most participants (85.7%) indicated testing for HIV within the past year. Factors independently associated with recent HIV testing were higher educational attainment (PR: 1.86; 95% CI: 1.03, 3.34) and networks to discuss health and medical services (PR: 1.84; 95% CI: 1.06, 1.20). A prior positive sexually transmitted infection was associated with decreased likelihood of recent HIV test (PR: 0.43; 95% CI 0.25, 0.74). Identifying specific social network characteristics may be effective in facilitating HIV testing and prevention strategies targeting NIDUs.

Keywords:

• HIV testing
• noninjection drug users
• HIV/AIDS prevention
• drug abuse
• social support
• social networks

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the START research team for their valuable contributions. This research was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse Grant R01-DA018061 (principal investigator: Crystal M. Fuller) and T32-DA023356 (Abby Rudolph).