PSYCHOSOCIAL RISK-FACTORS AND CONDOM USE IN INTRAVENOUS DRUG-ABUSERS

The authors studied psychosocial risk and protective factors in HIV tr ansmission in a population of intravenous drug abusers (IVDAs), with a focus on needle-sharing. The authors examined high-risk sexual behavi or in the same population by looking at factors affecting the individu al IVDA's condom use. The volunteer sample was 300 male IVDAs who were patients at AIDS or methadone clinics in a large city hospital. All s ubjects were individually interviewed regarding condom use for vaginal intercourse, with a structured questionnaire analyzed by means of mul tiple hierarchical regressions and Pearson correlation coefficients. P arental and peer factors and coping measures were associated with more condom use. The findings supported a mediational model for condom use . Family factors were associated with good coping and with the selecti on of friends who support condom use. These factors in turn were assoc iated with planning to use and actually using condoms.