SHARING INJECTING EQUIPMENT AND SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR IN AMBULATORY INTRAVENOUS-DRUG-USERS - A NATIONAL SURVEY (SPAIN)

This article examines the relationship between sharing and sexual beha vior in a nationwide sample of 1,074 intravenous drug users (IVDUs) in ambulatory treatment in Spain. Of our sample, 31.9% shared or had sha red injecting equipment. Sharing was associated with sex-less frequent in males-and yielded an inverse relationship with age, years of educa tion, and age at first intravenous drug use. Sharers, especially women , engaged more frequently in sex in exchange for money. A small propor tion (6.3%) of male IVDUs had bisexual or homosexual relations. Condom s were always used by 18.4% of males and 15.9% of females. The sharing of injecting equipment was not generally associated with a particular type of penetrative sexual encounter, although condom use was less fr equent among IVDUs who shared injecting equipment. The limitations of the present study are discussed.