NCJ Number
142576
Journal
Journal of Drug Education Volume: 23 Issue: 1 Dated: (1993) Pages: 57-66
Date Published
1993
Length
10 pages
Annotation
A comparison of 55 high-risk pregnant and 598 high-risk nonpregnant women from Harlem, New York City on HIV-related drug and sexual risk behaviors was undertaken to identify appropriate prevention and intervention policy recommendations.
Abstract
The participants were recruited between April 1989 and December 1990 for an AIDS risk reduction research demonstration project and were either intravenous drug abusers or sexual partners of intravenous drug abusers. The sample was mainly black (71 percent) or Hispanic (25 percent). A higher percentage of the nonpregnant women were intravenous drug abusers, and no significant differences were found between pregnant and nonpregnant drug abusers in terms of needle risk behaviors. The two groups were also similar in their use of noninjected drugs. The pregnant women were also significantly less likely to use condoms. Recommendations focused on the need for increased HIV risk reduction among high-risk women in general, and increased education efforts among pregnant high-risk women regarding condom use as protection from HIV and the potential consequences of maternal drug abuse for their children. (Author abstract modified)