AIDS-RELATED KNOWLEDGE AND HIGH-RISK BEHAVIORS OF PREGNANT, SUBSTANCE-DEPENDENT WOMEN

The authors investigated AIDS-related knowledge, high-risk behaviors, and relationships between AIDS-related knowledge, high-risk behaviors, and sociodemographic characteristics of 41 pregnant women entering tr eatment who were dependent on cocaine or opiates. At entry, patients c ompleted self-report questionnaires on AIDS-related knowledge and sexu al and drug use practices. There was a high rate of understanding of r isk? associated with drug use and perinatal transmission of HIV. Knowl edge of high-risk sexual behavior varied, and knowledge of the medical consequences of HIV was modest. Engagement in several high-risk behav iors was identified: lack of condom use, intravenous drug use, sharing of needles, sex with an injecting drug user, and exchanging sex for m oney or drugs. AIDS-related knowledge and engagement in high-risk beha viors were not significantly correlated. Authors discussed implication s of these findings for developing effective HIV prevention strategies in this population.