HIV RISK EXPOSURE OF INJECTING DRUG-USERS IN SYDNEY

One thousand two hundred and forty-five Sydney injecting drug users (I DUs) were interviewed by questionnaire in 1989 to determine demographi c and behavioural characteristics. One-sixth (16.7%) were considered t o be at low risk of HIV from either needle sharing or sexual transmiss ion as they had either never shared injecting equipment, or had not sh ared for years, or cleaned their injecting equipment effectively on 10 0% of the occasions when they did share; and were either celibate or m onogamous or, if they had multiple partners, had not had unsafe sex in the previous 6 months. Over half (50.7%) had either unsafe injecting or sexual behaviour with the remaining third (32.6%) engaging in both unsafe injecting and sexual practises, Women were more at risk from sh aring injection equipment than men but men were more at risk from sexu al transmission than women, Increasing age was associated with greater likelihood of safer sex but age had no effect on injecting practises. There was no relationship between unsafe injecting and sexual practis es, Amphetamine use was associated with low risk injecting practises w hile heroin use was associated with low risk sexual transmission. Thes e findings indicate appreciable residual risk behaviour sufficient to allow for at least a slow diffusion of HN among injecting drug users.