ETHNIC-DIFFERENCES IN HIV RISK BEHAVIORS, SELF-PERCEPTIONS, AND TREATMENT OUTCOMES AMONG WOMEN IN METHADONE-MAINTENANCE TREATMENT

This study examined the HIV risk profiles of White, African-American, and Latina women enrolled in the UCLA Enhanced Methadone Maintenance P roject, a NIDA-funded research demonstration project with the goal of reducing risk of HIV infection and/or transmission. Each group demonst rated distinct patterns associated with family relationships, sources of income, sexual and injection behaviors, and self-perceptions, altho ugh they were similar in their employment, drug use, mental health, an d criminal behavior histories. In general, Latinas were more likely to report familial influences and to display evidence of low self-esteem and self-efficacy, inconsistent condom use, and high-risk injection b ehavior. White women reported the highest levels of regular condom use at follow-up; however, they were the least likely to report safer inj ection practices. African-American women expressed the highest levels self-esteem, yet they reported more alcohol use at intake and crack co caine use both before and after treatment entry. They showed the great est gains in adopting safer injection practices and were the least lik ely to report multiple sex partners after treatment entry. These findi ngs can be used to improve the potential of methadone maintenance trea tment for HIV risk reduction for women and to aid in developing cultur ally sensitive treatment protocols.