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Sexual Risk Behavior Associated with Transition to Injection Among Young Non-Injecting Heroin Users

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of transitioning from non-injection heroin use to injection drug use on sexual risk behavior. Non-injecting heroin users age 16–30 were enrolled from 2002 to 2005, and were re-interviewed at 6-month intervals for up to three years; 561 participants completed at least one follow-up interview. The majority of participants were non-Hispanic (NH) Black (54 %), 23 % were Hispanic, and 21 % were NH white. During follow-up, 154 participants (27.5 %) transitioned to injecting drugs. Logistic regression analyses were conducted using generalized estimating equations (GEE) to estimate the effect of transition to injection drug use on changes in sexual risk behavior during follow-up. Transition to injection drug use during follow-up was associated with increased likelihood of sexual risk behavior, especially for men. Harm reduction efforts that focus on preventing initiation or return to injection among non-injecting drug users may also ameliorate HIV sexual risk behaviors.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse #R01DA012068. The authors thank Maggie Parker for data analysis, the study participants for the time and effort they contributed to this study, and the project staff who administered the coupon referral system, collected data, and otherwise operated field sites in a manner welcoming to potential participants. We also wish to recognize the following people for their contributions to the development and/or implementation of the Chicago NIHU-HIT study: Angus Atkins-Trimnell, James Crues, David Cosey, Jaime Delgado, Julio Garcia, Michelle Giles, Erin Kubalanza, Floyd McGee, and Michael Phillips.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1603 W. Taylor Street, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA

    Mary Ellen Mackesy-Amiti, Basmattee Boodram, Chyvette Williams, Lawrence J. Ouellet & Dita Broz

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  1. Mary Ellen Mackesy-Amiti
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  2. Basmattee Boodram
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  3. Chyvette Williams
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  4. Lawrence J. Ouellet
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  5. Dita Broz
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Correspondence to Mary Ellen Mackesy-Amiti.

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Mackesy-Amiti, M.E., Boodram, B., Williams, C. et al. Sexual Risk Behavior Associated with Transition to Injection Among Young Non-Injecting Heroin Users. AIDS Behav 17, 2459–2466 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-012-0335-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-012-0335-6

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