SEXUAL PRACTICES, SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED DISEASES AND OTHER RISK-FACTORS FOR HIV AMONG INJECTING DRUG-USERS

Data were collected from 814 clients attending anonymously for counsel ling before tests for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection at the Burnett Clinic in Auckland. Just over 10 per cent of clients (n = 83) reported ever having injected drugs. This group was matched accord ing to age, gender, ethnicity and sexual orientation with an equal siz ed control group drawn from clients who had not injected drugs. The gr oups were compared in terms of their sexual practices, sexual partners hips, other drug use, current and past health status and their percept ion of HIV risk. The injecting drug users reported more sex partners t han the nonusers, they were less likely to be in a relationship and th ey were less likely to be monogamous. Vaginal and oral sex were the mo st common practices in both groups but anal sex was more common among users than the nonusers. Regular condom use was reported by less than a quarter of each group. The health status of drug users was generally poorer than that of the nonusers. They reported greater use of alcoho l and other drugs, more mental health problems, and more symptoms of i ll health. They also had experienced more sexually-transmitted disease s. Only 1 per cent of users and 2 per cent of nonusers tested positive ly for HIV, although users saw themselves and their partners as at gre ater risk of HIV infection than the nonusers.