HIV risk behavior and drug use among heterosexual male crack users by prostitution involvement

Crack and prostitution, or sex exchange, have been linked to the heterosexu al spread of HIV (e.g. Inciardi 1993, 1995). Previous studies have found th at among female crack users there are subgroups who do and do not become in volved in prostitution (e.g. Logan, Farabee gi Leukefeld 1998; Logan & Leuk efeld 1998). However, there has been Little focus in the literature on subg roups of male heterosexual crack users who are or are not involved in prost itution. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in male heter osexual crack users who reported no involvement in prostitution as clients (n = 4,208), males who reported involvement in prostitution as clients but not in the month preceding the interview (n = 2,774), and males who reporte d involvement in prostitution as clients the month preceding the interview (n = 2,283) from a multi-site sample of male crack users who participated i n the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) AIDS Cooperative Agreement Pr oject from 20 sites across the nation. Results of the logistic regression i ndicated that having an STD three or more times and using drugs during sex were associated with ever being involved in prostitution as clients, while using drugs during sex and having 5 or more sexual partners the month prece ding the interview were significantly associated with being involved in pro stitution as clients at the time of the interview. Implications for interve ntions are discussed.