Injecting drug users who are (un)aware of their HIV serostatus

Findings from the multi-center study AjUDE-Brasil II

Bibliographic Data

ID5229725
AuthorsAline Dayrell Ferreira (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais), Waleska Teixeira Caiaffa (0000-0001-5043-4980, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais), Francisco I Bastos (0000-0001-5970-8896, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz), Sueli Aparecida Mingoti (0000-0003-3416-4014, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais)
Year2006
Volume22
Issue4
Pages815-826
Publication date2006-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCadernos de Saude Publica (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0102-311X • E-ISSN: 1678-4464
PublisherFapUNIFESP (SciELO) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1590/s0102-311x2006000400020
PMID16612435
OpenAlexW2166310944
SCIELO_PIDS0102-311X2006000400020
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited20

This study aimed to characterize the profiles of injecting drug users (IDUs) who were unaware of their HIV serostatus, given the importance of this information for prevention strategies, especially in this vulnerable population, key to the HIV/AIDS dynamic. As part of a cross-sectional multi-city survey, IDUs were interviewed and HIV-tested by the ELISA technique. IDUs were categorized according to knowledge of their own HIV status as either aware or unaware. Means, averages, and proportions were compared between the groups using bi- and multivariate analyses. Of 857 IDUs interviewed, 34.2% were unaware of their HIV serostatus. Those who were unaware were more likely: to have been recruited at sites where the HIV prevalence rate was considered medium (> 10 to 50%; odds ratio = 8.0) or high (> 50%; 4.0); to be illiterate (OR = 4.54); to have no prior HIV test (OR = 2.22); to be male (OR = 1.81); and to have been enrolled more recently in syringe-exchange programs (OR = 1.69). HIV prevention programs should target both individuals at risk and HIV-positive individuals. Programs to expand access to HIV testing are pivotal and should be tailored to specific contexts and populations

Cross-sectional study · Environmental health · Family medicine · Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) · Odds ratio · Pathology · Population · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Serostatus · Syringe · Viral load · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Demography · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Internal Medicine · Medicine