Perceived compliance with AZT dosing among a sample of African-American drug users

The purpose of this report was to present findings from a pilot study condu cted to explore the associations between sociodemographic, drug use, and he alth belief factors and perceived compliance with zidovudine (AZT) among Af rican-American drug users. Data were collected in Washington, DC, USA from individuals who were Africa n-American; were recent or current drug injectors or crack smokers; were HI V-seropositive, and were receiving treatment for HIV infection. Participant s were recruited through local organizations that provide services to HIV-i nfected persons. Participants were interviewed using a questionnaire that s olicited sociodemographic, lifetime and current drug use, current sexual be haviours, health status, HPV and drug treatment history, and health belief data. Analyses were limited to individuals currently using an illicit substance a nd who had received AZT during their medical treatment. Parametric (Pearson 's r) and nonparametric (Spearman's rho) statistics were used to assess cor relations between perceived compliance with AZT dosing and independent vari ables. As the study was intended to be both descriptive and exploratory, th e level of statistical significance was set at 0.10, rather than the custom ary 0.05. Antiretroviral medications recognized and recalled by participants are pres ented. The most commonly recalled medication was AZT. Slightly less than on e-third of participants reported being completely compliant with an AZT reg imen. Perceived compliance was found to be negatively associated with 5 var iables: age, homelessness, number of injections in the previous 30 days, tr ading sex for drugs, and the perception that AIDS is no longer a serious di sease since the development of new antiretroviral medications. Intensity of feelings of joy, fear, and the belief that taking more anti-HIV medication s would result in better health were found to be positively correlated. Bivariate associations between perceived compliance and sociodemographic, d rug use, sexual behaviour, and health belief variables suggest further aven ues of study and potential points for intervention to increase compliance w ith antiretroviral medications among racial/ethnic minority drug users rece iving treatment for HIV infection.