PATTERNS OF SEXUAL AND INJECTING RISK BEHAVIORS IN FRENCH INTRAVENOUS-DRUG-USERS NOT REPORTING HIV AND HEPATITIS-C VIRUS SEROPOSITIVITIES

Aims. To characterize and identify determinants of risk behaviour patt erns of intravenous drug users (IDUs) independently of changes due to knowledge of HIV or hepatitis C Virus (HCV) seropositivity. Design. A cross-sectional survey using a structured questionnaire concerning sex ual, injecting and HIV and HCV antibody testing practices. Setting. ID Us were interviewed in the Paris region at 10 treatment or psychosocia l centres. Participants. Six hundred and twelve consecutive sexually a ctive IDUs over 18 years able to answer the questionnaire. Measurement s. Five hundred and ninety-five IDUs completed the questionnaire. The risk-behaviour patterns of the 328 IDUs not reporting HIV or HCV serop ositivity were analysed by phi correlation. Risk factors for each risk behaviour were determined by regression logistic models yielding odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Findings. Sev eral risk behaviour patterns were suggested: (1) lending, borrowing; ( 2) not or inconsistently testing HIV and HCV serology and not or incon sistently using condoms; (3) having multiple partners and prostitution ; and (4) not using clean equipment. Alcohol abuse was independently a nd specifically associated with lending (OR = 3.8; 95% CI: 2. 1-7 0) a nd borrowing (OR = 3.3; 95% CI: 1.8-6.1); homelessness with injecting risk behaviours and with prostitution (OR=2.7; 95% CI: 1.2-6.1); low e ducational level and having children with not or inconsistently using condom and serology testing; and cocaine use with not or inconsistentl y using condoms (OR = 0.4; 95% CI: 0.3-0. 7) and serology testing and not using clean equipment (OR = 0.4; 95% CI: 0.2-0.8). Having multiple partners and prostitution had no common risk factors. Conclusions. Id entifying specific risk factors could help to target drug harm reducti on programmes for each risk behaviour pattern among IDUs not reporting HIV and HCV seropositivity.