AN ASSESSMENT OF THE RISKS OF SYPHILIS AND HIV-INFECTION AMONG A SAMPLE OF NOT-IN-TREATMENT DRUG-USERS IN HOUSTON, TEXAS

The research presented in this paper details the results of an assessm ent of the risk factors associated with having a positive syphilis or HIV serology. The study was conducted using a sample of not-in-treatme nt drug users volunteering to participate in an HIV risk reduction int ervention. The sample was composed of individuals who had injected dru gs within 30 days or smoked crack cocaine 48 hours prior to participat ion in the study. Study participants were approximately 75% male and 6 6% African-American. All participants provided a blood sample to be te sted for HIV and syphilis. Analysis of risk was conducted using univar iate and multivariate statistical methods. Multivariate analysis of bl ood results showed that women, African-Americans, and those having a p ositive blood test for HIV were at higher odds of having a positive sy philis test. Analysis also showed that being a gay or bisexual male, h aving a history of drug injection, having less than a high-school educ ation, having a history of trading sex for money, being African-Americ an, and having a positive blood test for syphilis significantly increa sed the odds of a positive HIV test. Implications for HIV and STD prev ention are discussed.