Prevalence of HIV Infection and Risk Behaviors Among Younger and Older Injecting Drug Users in the United States, 2009
Dita Broza b✉, Huong Phamc d, Michael W. Spillerb e, Cyprian Wejnertb e, Binh C. Leb e, Alan Neaigusf g, Gabriela Paz‐Baileyb e
- aBehavioral and Clinical Surveillance Branch, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, MS-E46, Atlanta, GA, 30333, USA, dbroz@cdc.gov
- bBehavioral and Clinical Surveillance Branch, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA
- cICF International, Atlanta, GA, USA
- dICF International, Atlanta, USA
- eBehavioral and Clinical Surveillance Branch, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, MS-E46, Atlanta, GA, 30333, USA
- fHIV Epidemiology and Field Services Program, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, NY, USA
- gHIV Epidemiology and Field Services Program, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, USA
- ✉Corresponding author
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Abstract
This study compared HIV sero-prevalence and risk behaviors between younger and older injecting drug users (IDUs). IDUs aged ≥18 years were interviewed for the 2009 National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System. Using GEE regression, we assessed characteristics of younger (18–29 years) and older (≥30 years) IDUs, and factors associated with past 12-month receptive syringe sharing and unprotected sex (vaginal/anal). Of 10,090 participants, 10 % were younger. HIV sero-prevalence was lower among younger than older IDUs (4 vs. 10 %, p = 0.001). Younger IDUs were more likely (p ≤ 0.002) to be non-black race/ethnicity, report higher household income, homelessness, being arrested and to engage in receptive syringe sharing and unprotected sex. In multivariable models, age remained associated (p < 0.001) with receptive syringe sharing (aPR = 1.14, 95 % CI1.07–1.22) and unprotected sex (aPR = 1.10, 95 % CI1.06–1.14). Although younger IDUs had lower HIV prevalence, their behaviors place them at increased risk of HIV infection and could lead to a rapid spread in this susceptible population.
TL;DRAlthough younger IDUs had lower HIV prevalence, their behaviors place them at increased risk of HIV infection and could lead to a rapid spread in this susceptible population. (Semantic Scholar)