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Severity of drug dependence, economic pressure and HIV-related risk behaviors among non-institutionalized female injecting drug users who are also sex workers in China

2008; Elsevier BV; Volume: 97; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2008.03.029

1879-0046

Jing Gu, Hongyao Chen, Xi Chen, Joseph T. F. Lau, Renfan Wang, Chuliang Liu, Jun Liu, Zhangquan Lei, Zhenglin Li,

HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions

Female injecting drug users (IDUs) who are also sex workers (FSW-IDUs) is an important bridge population transmitting HIV from the IDU population to clients of FSWs. Little is known about the relationships between severity of drug dependence, economic pressure and relevant HIV-related risk behaviors.281 non-institutionalized participants were recruited using snowball sampling methods. Anonymous face-to-face interviews were administered by trained doctors.64.1% of participants used condoms inconsistently with their clients in the past 6 months; 28.5% served at least 2 clients per day and 48.4% practiced at least one of the three studied needle sharing behaviors. Severity of drug dependence (adjusted OR=1.05, p<0.01) and economic pressure (adjusted OR=1.07 to 2.52, p<0.05) were significantly associated with inconsistent condom use with clients in the last 6 months. Severity of drug dependence (adjusted OR=1.15, p<0.01) and variables related to perceived economic pressure (adjusted OR=1.09-3.05, p<0.05) were significantly associated with higher frequency of commercial sex transaction. Severity of drug dependence (adjusted OR=1.07, p<0.01) were also associated with needle sharing behaviors. In summary models, severity of drug dependence (OR=1.17, p<0.001), economic pressure (OR=1.39, p<0.001) and their interaction term (OR=0.98, p<0.001) were all associated with inconsistent condom use with clients in the last 6 months.Prevalence of unprotected commercial sex was high and was independently associated with severity of drug dependence and economic pressure; severity of drug dependence was also associated with needle sharing behaviors. Such issues need to be fully considered when planning research studies and interventions.