PERCEIVED AIDS RISK AMONG ADULT ARRESTEE INJECTION-DRUG USERS IN LOS-ANGELES-COUNTY

In this paper we examine the determinants of perceived risk for gettin g HN and AIDS among adult Los Angeles arrestees reporting any lifetime injection drug use (N = 958). Our sample, drawn from the Drug Use For ecasting program, is 60% male and 40% female. Higher rates of reported risky drug and sexual behaviors than in the general population make t his a particularly relevant sample within which to explore correlates of perceived risk for getting HN and AIDS. We used multiple logistic r egression to assess the relationship between perceived risk and a vari ety of demographic, behavioral, and psychosocial variables. Arrestees reporting celibacy in the past year, having an injection-drug-using se xual partner, having more than 20 sexual partners, engaging in sex whi le high, knowing someone with AIDS, and having been tested for HIV ant ibodies were more likely to perceive themselves at greater risk of get ting HIV and AIDS. African American arrestees and arrestees reporting having attempted to reduce their sexual risks were less likely to perc eive themselves at greater risk for getting AIDS. Implications for AID S education and prevention are discussed.