PREDICTORS OF CHANGES IN SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR AMONG WOMEN ON METHADONE

This study identified predictors of reported sexual risk reduction amo ng 109 female injection drug users enrolled in methadone clinics. Univ ariate analyses were used to examine the individual effects of each va riable on the outcome of sexual behavior change over the past 6 months . Multiple logistic regression was then used to identify which of thes e variables were independently associated with such a change. Women wi th more than one sexual partner were more likely than women with one o r no sexual partner to report changing their sexual behavior. African- American women were less likely than White Anglo or Latina women to re port changing their sexual behavior. Women who held stronger beliefs t hat luck plays the largest role in getting AIDS were less likely to re port changing their sexual behavior. Change in sexual behavior was ass ociated with feeling comfortable asking partners to use condoms, highe r depression scores, and loss of friends or family to AIDS. The observ ed relationship between personal susceptibility and depression suggest s that fisk reduction interventions should also address the depressive symptomatology associated with feelings of vulnerability.