THE ALCOHOLICS IN TREATMENT HIV RISK (ATRISK) STUDY - GENDER, ETHNIC AND GEOGRAPHIC GROUP COMPARISONS

Objective: This study attempted to identify alcoholic inpatients as a population at elevated risk for HIV infection in comparison with other groups. Modes of risk across gender, ethnic and geographic subgroups were explored in order to guide targeted preventive efforts in the fut ure. Method: Structured interviews were conducted with 802 alcoholic i npatients (481 males, 321 females) in New York City and western New Yo rk State. Results: Measures of sexual risk behavior indicated low rate s of condom use and high rates of multiple or nonprimary sex partners. Trading sex for drugs or money was common. Injection drug use was rep orted by nearly one-fifth of these patients. Most subjects (59.9%) rep orted at least one sexually transmitted disease. Self-reported HIV sta tus yielded a seroprevalence rate of 6.7% among those who knew their H N status. Conclusions: Findings indicated rates of HN infection and as sociated risk behaviors similar to, and in some instances exceeding, t hose of other high-risk subpopulations. Subgroup differences indicated unique patterns of risk behavior across gender, ethnic and geographic subgroups, Findings are discussed with regard to prevention and treat ment implications of high-risk behaviors among alcoholic inpatients.