HIV risk behavior among bisexual and heterosexual drug users

This study examined the sexual and drug use behaviors for bisexual and hete rosexual drug users (n=11,435 males and n=5,636 females) who participated i n the NIDA AIDS Cooperative Agreement study. Results of the study suggest t hat, for males, bisexuality was highly associated with being homeless, havi ng ever been paid for sex, having five or more sex partners in the month pr eceding the interview, having an IV drug-using sexual partner in the month preceding the interview, using crack, and sharing injection equipment in th e month preceding the interview. For females, bisexuality was associated wi th ever having been arrested, past substance abuse treatment, ever having b een paid for sex, ever having paid for sex, having five or more sexual part ners in the month preceding the interview, ever using cocaine, and sharing injection equipment in the month preceding the interview. Overall, results from this study indicate that both male and female bisexuals, when compared to heterosexuals, were at higher risk for HIV and were more likely to be H IV positive. One implication of these results is that a universal preventio n message may not be as effective as targeting prevention messages specific ally for bisexual males and females.