PREDICTORS OF HIV STATUS AMONG INJECTING DRUG-USERS AND HEALTH PROMOTION

Two consecutive samples one year apart of injecting drug users (n=754 and n=345) were collected in Sydney, Australia and analysed for predic tors of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevalence. Data indicated that similar variables were associated with HIV infection in both wave s of the study. Risks for HIV infection included number of injections in last typical using month, acceptance of used injecting equipment fr om other injecting drug users (IDUs) who were known to be infected eit her before or after the sharing occurred, having sex with people known to be infected with HIV, and sexual orientation. It was not possible to determine whether sexual or equipment sharing with known HIV infect ed people preceded or followed HIV infection. These data confirm that predictors of HIV prevalence in Sydney are similar to those found in o verseas studies and that sexual orientation appears to be the most pow erful predictor. These data suggest both that sexual contact is an imp ortant route of infection in IDUs, and that sexual risks for HIV infec tion in IDUs need to be emphasised.