Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Gender, Transience, Network Partnerships and Risky Sexual Practices Among Young Persons who Inject Drugs

  • Original Article
  • Published:
AIDS and Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Persons who inject drugs (PWID) may be at risk of acquiring HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) from risky sexual practices and elevated disease prevalence within their drug injection and sexual networks. We conducted a personal (egocentric) network study of young PWID (aged 18–30) from the Chicago metropolitan area. Logistic regression with generalized estimating equations evaluated associations between individual and network factors and sexual behaviors. Of 162 participants, 116 (71.6 %) were non-Hispanic White and 135 reported on 314 sexual network members. Multiplexity—having network members with overlapping roles as injection and sexual partners—was associated with more condomless vaginal sex (aOR 5.55; 95 % CI 1.62–19.0) and anal sex (aOR 6.79; 95 % CI 2.49–18.5) and less exchange sex among women (aOR 0.12; 95 % CI 0.03–0.40), adjusting for sociodemographic and sexual network characteristics. The contribution of individual and sexual network factors to HIV/STI transmission among young PWID warrants further research.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hall HI, Song R, Rhodes P, Prejean J, An Q, Lee LM, et al. Estimation of HIV incidence in the United States. JAMA. 2008;300(5):520–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Mackesy-Amiti ME, Boodram B, Williams C, Ouellet LJ, Broz D. Sexual risk behavior associated with transition to injection among young non-injecting heroin users. AIDS Behav. 2013;17(7):2459–66.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Khan MR, Berger A, Hemberg J, O’Neill A, Dyer TP, Smyrk K. Non-injection and injection drug use and STI/HIV risk in the United States: the degree to which sexual risk behaviors versus sex with an STI-infected partner account for infection transmission among drug users. AIDS Behav. 2013;17(3):1185–94.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Strathdee SA, Sherman SG. The role of sexual transmission of HIV infection among injection and non-injection drug users. J Urban Health. 2003;80(4 Suppl 3):iii7–14.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Hagan H, Des Jarlais DC, Stern R, Lelutiu-Weinberger C, Scheinmann R, Strauss S, et al. HCV synthesis project: preliminary analyses of HCV prevalence in relation to age and duration of injection. Int J Drug Policy. 2007;18(5):341–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. El-Bassel N, Wechsberg WM, Shaw SA. Dual HIV risk and vulnerabilities among women who use or inject drugs: no single prevention strategy is the answer. Curr Opin HIV AIDS. 2012;7(4):326–31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Iversen J, Page K, Madden A, Maher L. HIV, HCV, and Health-Related Harms Among Women Who Inject Drugs: Implications for Prevention and Treatment. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2015;69(Suppl 2):S176–81.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. El-Bassel N, Gilbert L, Witte S, Wu E, Chang M. Intimate partner violence and HIV among drug-involved women: contexts linking these two epidemics–challenges and implications for prevention and treatment. Subst Use Misuse. 2011;46(2–3):295–306.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. El-Bassel N, Gilbert L, Wu E, Go H, Hill J. Relationship between drug abuse and intimate partner violence: a longitudinal study among women receiving methadone. Am J Public Health. 2005;95(3):465–70.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Gilbert L, Raj A, Hien D, Stockman J, Terlikbayeva A, Wyatt G. Targeting the SAVA (substance abuse, violence, and AIDS) syndemic among women and girls: a global review of epidemiology and integrated interventions. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2015;69(69):S118–27.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Des Jarlais DC, Feelemyer JP, Modi SN, Arasteh K, Hagan H. Are females who inject drugs at higher risk for HIV infection than males who inject drugs: an international systematic review of high seroprevalence areas. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2012;124(1–2):95–107.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. El-Bassel N, Shaw SA, Dasgupta A, Strathdee SA. People who inject drugs in intimate relationships: it takes two to combat HIV. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. 2014;11(1):45–51.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Sherman SG, Latkin CA. Intimate relationship characteristics associated with condom use among drug users and their sex partners: a multilevel analysis. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2001;64(1):97–104.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Evans JL, Hahn JA, Page-Shafer K, Lum PJ, Stein ES, Davidson PJ, et al. Gender differences in sexual and injection risk behavior among active young injection drug users in San Francisco (the UFO Study). J Urban Health. 2003;80(1):137–46.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Strathdee SA, Lozada R, Martinez G, Vera A, Rusch M, Nguyen L, et al. Social and structural factors associated with HIV infection among female sex workers who inject drugs in the Mexico-US border region. PLoS One. 2011;6(4):e19048.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Simmons J, Rajan S, McMahon JM. Retrospective accounts of injection initiation in intimate partnerships. Int J Drug Policy. 2012;23(4):303–11.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Tempalski B, Pouget ER, Cleland CM, Brady JE, Cooper HL, Hall HI, et al. Trends in the population prevalence of people who inject drugs in US metropolitan areas 1992–2007. PLoS One. 2013;8(6):e64789.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Prevention CfDCa. Viral Hepatitis Surveillance, United States—20132013 http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/statistics/2013surveillance/pdfs/2013hepsurveillancerpt.pdf. Accessed 15 Feb 2106.

  19. Broz D, Wejnert C, Pham HT, DiNenno E, Heffelfinger JD, Cribbin M, et al. HIV infection and risk, prevention, and testing behaviors among injecting drug users—National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System, 20 US cities, 2009. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2014;63(6):1–51.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Rondinelli AJ, Ouellet LJ, Strathdee SA, Latka MH, Hudson SM, Hagan H, et al. Young adult injection drug users in the United States continue to practice HIV risk behaviors. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2009;104(1–2):167–74.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Spiller MW, Broz D, Wejnert C, Nerlander L, Paz-Bailey G. HIV infection and HIV-associated behaviors among persons who inject drugs–20 cities, United States, 2012. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2015;64(10):270–5.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Satterwhite CL, Torrone E, Meites E, Dunne EF, Mahajan R, Ocfemia MC, et al. Sexually transmitted infections among US women and men: prevalence and incidence estimates, 2008. Sex Transm Dis. 2013;40(3):187–93.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Lakon CM, Ennett ST, Norton EC. Mechanisms through which drug, sex partner, and friendship network characteristics relate to risky needle use among high risk youth and young adults. Social Sci Med. 2006;63(9):2489–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Latkin CA, Forman V, Knowlton A, Sherman S. Norms, social networks, and HIV-related risk behaviors among urban disadvantaged drug users. Social Sci Med. 2003;56(3):465–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Neaigus A, Friedman SR, Curtis R, Des Jarlais DC, Furst RT, Jose B, et al. The relevance of drug injectors’ social and risk networks for understanding and preventing HIV infection. Social Sci Med. 1994;38(1):67–78.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Suh T, Mandell W, Latkin C, Kim J. Social network characteristics and injecting HIV-risk behaviors among street injection drug users. Drug Alcohol Depend. 1997;47(2):137–43.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Boodram B, Mackesy-Amiti ME, Latkin C. The role of social networks and geography on risky injection behaviors of young persons who inject drugs. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2015;1(154):229–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Neblett RC, Davey-Rothwell M, Chander G, Latkin CA. Social network characteristics and HIV sexual risk behavior among urban African American women. J Urban Health. 2011;88(1):54–65.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Grieb SM, Davey-Rothwell M, Latkin CA. Social and sexual network characteristics and concurrent sexual partnerships among urban African American high-risk women with main sex partners. AIDS Behav. 2012;16(4):882–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Schneider JA, Cornwell B, Ostrow D, Michaels S, Schumm P, Laumann EO, et al. Network mixing and network influences most linked to HIV infection and risk behavior in the HIV epidemic among black men who have sex with men. Am J Public Health. 2013;103(1):e28–36.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  31. German D, Davey MA, Latkin CA. Residential transience and HIV risk behaviors among injection drug users. AIDS Behav. 2007;11(6 Suppl):21–30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Roy E, Robert M, Vaillancourt E, Boivin JF, Vandermeerschen J, Martin I. Residential trajectory and HIV high-risk behaviors among Montreal street youth–a reciprocal relationship. J Urban Health. 2011;88(4):767–78.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  33. Aidala A, Cross JE, Stall R, Harre D, Sumartojo E. Housing status and HIV risk behaviors: implications for prevention and policy. AIDS Behav. 2005;9(3):251–65.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Patrick DM, Strathdee SA, Archibald CP, Ofner M, Craib KJ, Cornelisse PG, et al. Determinants of HIV seroconversion in injection drug users during a period of rising prevalence in Vancouver. Int J STD AIDS. 1997;8(7):437–45.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Smereck GA, Hockman EM. Prevalence of HIV infection and HIV risk behaviors associated with living place: on-the-street homeless drug users as a special target population for public health intervention. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 1998;24(2):299–319.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Fleming DT, Wasserheit JN. From epidemiological synergy to public health policy and practice: the contribution of other sexually transmitted diseases to sexual transmission of HIV infection. Sex Transm Infections. 1999;75(1):3–17.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Janulis P. The micro-social risk environment for injection drug use: an event specific analysis of dyadic, situational, and network predictors of injection risk behavior. Int J Drug Policy. 2016;27:56–64.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. El-Bassel N, Terlikbaeva A, Pinkham S. HIV and women who use drugs: double neglect, double risk. Lancet. 2010;376(9738):312–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Macaluso M, Demand MJ, Artz LM, Hook EW III. Partner type and condom use. Aids. 2000;14(5):537–46.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Fortenberry JD, Tu W, Harezlak J, Katz BP, Orr DP. Condom use as a function of time in new and established adolescent sexual relationships. Am J Public Health. 2002;92(2):211–3.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  41. Stockman JK, Morris MD, Martinez G, Lozada R, Patterson TL, Ulibarri MD, et al. Prevalence and correlates of female condom use and interest among injection drug-using female sex workers in two Mexico–US border cities. AIDS Behav. 2012;16(7):1877–86.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  42. Syvertsen JL, Robertson AM, Palinkas LA, Rangel MG, Martinez G, Strathdee SA. ‘Where sex ends and emotions begin’: love and HIV risk among female sex workers and their intimate, non-commercial partners along the Mexico–US border. Cult Health Sex. 2013;15(5):540–54.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  43. Gwadz MV, Gostnell K, Smolenski C, Willis B, Nish D, Nolan TC, et al. The initiation of homeless youth into the street economy. J Adolesc. 2009;32(2):357–77.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Miller CL, Fielden SJ, Tyndall MW, Zhang R, Gibson K, Shannon K. Individual and structural vulnerability among female youth who exchange sex for survival. J Adolesc Health. 2011;49(1):36–41.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was funded in its entirety by a pilot grant award from the Chicago Developmental Center for AIDS Research (NIH/NIAID) [Grant#5P30AI082151-04]. The funding source was not directly involved in the collection, analysis or interpretation of the data; in the writing of this report; or in the decision to submit the paper for publication.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health—Community Outreach Intervention Projects (COIP), University of Illinois Chicago, 1603 W. Taylor St, Room 866 (M/C 923), Chicago, IL, 60612, USA

    Anna L. Hotton & Basmattee Boodram

Authors
  1. Anna L. Hotton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Basmattee Boodram
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anna L. Hotton.

Ethics declarations

Conflicts of interest

A. Hotton and B. Boodram have no conflict of interests.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study. No personal identifying information is included in the manuscript.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hotton, A.L., Boodram, B. Gender, Transience, Network Partnerships and Risky Sexual Practices Among Young Persons who Inject Drugs. AIDS Behav 21, 982–993 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-016-1555-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-016-1555-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation