HIV-INFECTION AMONG INJECTING DRUG-USERS IN THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN METHADONE PROGRAM

Objective: To investigate risk factors for infection with HIV among in jecting drug users (IDUs) in South Australia. Design: Retrospective ca se-control study comparing HIV-infected and uninfected IDUs who had re ceived methadone at any time between January 1981 and June 1991. Resul ts: Most HIV-infected clients were diagnosed between 1985 and 1987. Me n were more likely to be infected than women. A history of imprisonmen t was associated with a higher risk of infection on univariate but not multivariate analysis, Infected IDUs on average were three years youn ger than noninfected IDUs when they first injected drugs. Conclusions: Prevention programs should target young drug injectors. Prisons are i mportant places to institute prevention programs.