Drug Users and HIV Risk in Guatemala City, Guatemala

Abstract

Injection drug use is a known risk factor for HIV transmission, but research suggests non-injection drug use also heightens HIV risk. This study measures HIV prevalence and examines sexual behavior among drug users in Guatemala City. The multiplier method and respondent-driven sampling (RDS) were used to estimate the size of the population, generating a representative sample of 299 drug users 18+ years old living in Guatemala City. The study found that drug users tended to be males with low education and income; 6% were HIV positive. Most drug users reported sexual behaviors that heightened the risk of HIV transmission like multiple sexual partners, buying or selling sex, low rates of consistent condom use, and exchanging sex for drugs. HIV prevalence is low in Guatemala, but non-injection drug use likely increases behaviors that heighten risk of HIV transmission.