PREVALENCE OF HIV-INFECTION AND THEIR ASSOCIATED RISK BEHAVIORS AMONGSTREET-RECRUITED INJECTING DRUG-USERS

BACKGROUND: TO estimate the prevalence of HIV infection and the associ ated risk behaviours among intravenous drug users not receiving treatm ent for their drug dependence. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 200 intravenous drug users recruited from the streets of Bar celona in 1993. Information about the socio-demographic aspects and be haviours was obtained through a personal interview using a standardise d questionnaire which was carried out by three ex-drug users. Saliva s amples were used to determine anti HIV antibodies. RESULTS: The preval ence of HIV infection was 51%. 57% borrowed used syringes, 65% lended their syringes, and 41% practised back or frontloading. 85% of those w ho shared syringes always cleaned them, however 59% only used water. 7 8% had heterosexual relations, in 33% of the cases with a non-injectin g sexual partner. 65% always used condoms with sexual clients although only 26% always used them with stable sexual partners and 36% with ca sual sexual partners. 78% had performed the HIV test and among those w ho knew they were seropositive, 40% had received some kind of health c ontrol in the last 6 months. Not having a legal income, injecting spee dball or barbiturates, unknowing self HIV negative status and practici ng forms of indirect sharing were found to be independently associated with syringe sharing. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of HIV infecti on and associated risk behaviours highlights the need to increase and adapt the prevention efforts and investigation to this group, Social m arginalization and poliuse of drugs should be addressed in HIV prevent ion programs.