Abstract
This study compared the associations between social support and HIV injection risk among Puerto Rican migrant (n = 221) and nonmigrant (n = 340) injection drug users in New York City. Practical and emotional support scales were developed from 8 items and examined by migrant status as predictors of risk. Bivariate and regression analysis were conducted with drug shooting gallery use, sharing needles, paraphernalia, and number of monthly injections as dependent variables. Migrants had lower emotional (2.82 vs. 3.19, p = .002) and practical (1.87 vs. 2.05; p = .051) support than nonmigrants. Controlling for age, sex and homelessness, emotional support was negatively associated to injection frequency and (standardized coefficient = -.168, p = .020) gallery use (adjusted odds ration [AOR] = .76, confidence interval [CI] = .62-.94, p = .011) among migrants and to an almost two fold increase in sharing syringes (AOR= 1.87, CI = 1.02-3.43; p = .041) among nonmigrants. The findings suggest that though migrants have less support than nonmigrants do, their support reduces risk and thus their likelihood of injection-related HIV infection.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
