THE IMPACT OF AN HIV RISK-REDUCTION PROGRAM AMONG STREET DRUG-USERS IN RIO-DE-JANEIRO, BRAZIL

This article assesses the impact of an HIV risk-reduction program on r isky behaviors in a population of street cocaine users in Rio de Janei ro, Brazil. Pre-and postintervention data were collected and changes i n the frequency of drug use, sexual risk behaviors, and other life-sit uation variables were examined. Participation in the program was assoc iated with a significant decrease in the average number of days of coc aine use and a significant increase in employment and income. Signific ant increases in condom use were also documented. The data suggest tha t this population of street cocaine users was capable of understanding the severity of AIDS as well as learning and applying specific risk-r eduction techniques to their behavior The results further demonstrate the feasibility of conducting street research among an at-risk populat ion of cocaine users in Brazil and in other countries in which there i s little tradition of research with out-of-treatment drug users.