Correlates of HIV risk among female sex partners of injecting drug users in a high-seroprevalence area

Risk factors for HIV infection were examined in 520 female sex partners (SP s) of injecting drug users (IDUs): 16% tested HIV positive (40% among forme r IDUs). In multivariate analyses, sex trade was associated with lower risk of HIV infection, whereas race: age, history of pneumonia or genital herpe s, high self-rated AIDS risk, and IDU history were related to greater risk. Among women with no IDU history. cohabitation with a SP (not trading sex) predicted higher risk; having a female SP was also associated with higher r isk. Secondary analyses suggest that total unprotected contacts with IDUs a nd both sex trade and cohabitation might account for these findings. The da ta suggest that, for female SPs of IDUs, reducing numbers of sex partners p er se may not confer adequate protection from HIV. For women in committed r elationships with IDUs, interventions should address contextual factors in relationships that elevate risk and complicate prevention. (C) 2001 Elsevie r Science Ltd. All rights reserved.