THE PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF AIDS-RELATED BEHAVIORAL-CHANGE AMONG INJECTION-DRUG USERS - A CROSS-NATIONAL-STUDY

Objective. This study assessed the relationship between self-reported acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) behavioral change and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) serostatus among injection drug users. Me thods. The study sample involved 4419 injection drug users recruited f rom drug abuse treatment and nontreatment settings in 11 cities North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The World Health Organization multisite risk behavior questionnaire was use, and either blood or saliva samples for HIV testing were obtained. Subjects were asked, ''Since you first heard about AIDS, have,you done anything to a void getting-AIDS?'' Results. The protective odds ratio for behavioral change against being infected with HIV was 0.50 (95% confidence inter val = 0.42, 0.59). While there was important variation across sites, t he relationship remained consistent across both demographic and drug u se history subgroups. Conclusions. Injection drug users are: capable o f modifying their HIV risk behaviors and reporting accurately on behav ioral changes. These behavioral changes are associated with their avoi dance of HIV infection.