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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: AJPH.2004.061077v1 96/6/1066    most recent Submit a response Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (3) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bell, A. V. Articles by Sherman, S. G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bell, A. V. Articles by Sherman, S. G. Related Collections HIV/AIDS Drugs Urban Health Women's Health

Ann V. Bell, MHS, Danielle Ompad, PhD and Susan G. Sherman, PhD, MPH

At time of this study, Ann V. Bell was with the Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Md. Danielle Ompad is with the Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, New York City. Susan G. Sherman is with the Infectious Disease Program, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Susan G. Sherman, PhD, MPH, Infectious Disease Program, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe St, Suite E6543, Baltimore, MD 21215 (e-mail: ssherman{at}jhsph.edu).

Objectives. We examined risk behaviors of female drug users, comparing those who reported recently having had sex with women (recent WSW), those who reported previously having had sex with women (former WSW), and those who reported never having had sex with women (never WSW).

Methods. We used data from the Risk Evaluation and Assessment of Community Health III Study. Adjusted odds for predictors of WSW status were determined via multinomial logistic regression analyses.

Results. Of the participants, 75% were never WSW, 12% were former WSW, and 13% were recent WSW. In comparison with never WSW status, significant predictors of recent WSW status were living away from one’s parents as a child (adjusted odds ratio [OR]=3.05; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.07, 8.67) and recently having been paid for sex by men (adjusted OR=4.02; 95% CI=1.67, 9.68). Also, recently having been paid for sex by men was a significant predictor of former WSW status as opposed to never WSW status (adjusted OR=3.97; 95% CI=1.65, 9.59).

Conclusions. The recency with which they had sex with women is one of the facets influencing the risk profile of WSW. The diverse characteristics of the WSW population need to be incorporated into future studies and risk interventions targeting this group.