Risky Sexual Behaviors and HIV/Disease Knowledge of Injection Drug Users Attending Needle Exchange Programs

Abstract

ABSTRACT A meta-analysis of worldwide Needle Exchange Program research was conducted with fourteen studies, looking at the impact of needle exchange programs (NEPs) on the sexual risk behaviors and HIV/disease knowledge of injection drug users. Based on the limited data available to date (a total of 14 studies), two conclusions were drawn. First, HIV/disease knowledge does increase with NEP attendance. Second, risky sexual behaviors do not appear to decrease with NEP attendance, and may in fact increase. Neither of these areas has been investigated nearly as often as risky drug behaviors among NEP attend-ers. Focusing on disease knowledge and reducing risky sexual behaviors of NEP clients are both key areas for AIDS Service Organization staff to consider when developing HIV risk reduction interventions for injection drug users (IDUs).