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The protective effect of AIDS-related behavioral change among injection drug users: a cross-national study. WHO Multi-Centre Study of AIDS and Injecting Drug Use.

D C Des Jarlais, P Friedmann, H Hagan and S R Friedman

Chemical Dependency Institute, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY 10003, USA.

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the relationship between self-reported acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) behavioral change and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) serostatus among injection drug users. METHODS: The study sample involved 4419 injection drug users recruited from drug abuse treatment and nontreatment settings in 11 cities in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The World Health Organization multisite risk behavior questionnaire was used, and either blood or saliva samples for HIV testing were obtained. Subjects were asked, "Since you first heard about AIDS, have you done anything to avoid getting AIDS?" RESULTS: The protective odds ratio for behavioral change against being infected with HIV was 0.50 (95% confidence interval = 0.42, 0.59). While there was important variation across sites, the relationship remained consistent across both demographic and drug use history subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Injection drug users are capable of modifying their HIV risk behaviors and reporting accurately on behavioral changes. These behavioral changes are associated with their avoidance of HIV infection.

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