Stages of Change for HIV Risk Behavior: Injecting Drug Users in Five Cities

Abstract

SUMMARY Objectives: To examine risk behavior and stages of behavior change for condom and needle behavior measured in surveys of drug using populations; To determine factors associated with stages of change. Data: Two rounds of baseline surveys of injecting drug users in 5 cities conducted as part of the AIDS Evaluation of Street Outreach Projects. Methods: Representative samples of injecting drug users were conducted in 5 cities. Questionnaires obtained information on risk behaviors, exposure to street outreach and stages of change for risk behaviors. Ordinal logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine factors associated with stage of change variables. Results: Respondents interviewed in the street-based samples in the 5 AESOP IDU sites had a very high level of risk for HIV, in terms of sexual and drug risk behavior. Stages of change for condom use was higher for non-steady partners compared to steady or main partners. Having a condom at interview was the most consistent predictor of responde...