Temporal Trends in HIV Risk Behaviors Among Out-of-Treatment Women Crack Users: The Need for Drug Treatment (From Women and Substance Abuse: Gender Transparency, P 13-33, 1998, Sally J. Stevens and Harry K. Wexler, eds. -- See NCJ-180777)

• NCJ Number: 180779
• Author(s): Salaam Semaan DrPh; Lynne Kotranski Ph.D.; Karyn Collier B.A.; Jennifer Lauby Ph.D.; Joan Halbert M.A.; Kelly Feighan B.A.
• Date Published: 1998
• Length: 21 pages
• Grant Number(s): U01-DA06919
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Sale Source: Haworth Press, Inc
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: DCC

Annotation

Data from 169 female crack users in South Philadelphia, Pa., from January 1992 through June 1994 formed the basis of an analysis of the levels of HIV-related characteristics in these women, as well as temporal trends in the characteristics.

Abstract

The research gathered baseline data as part of a 5-year, multi-site HIV intervention study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The majority of women were black, had less than a high school education, and were receiving public assistance. A high proportion of women continued to engage in high-risk behaviors with no significant change over time. the rate of HIV seroprevalence was 7 percent among the 73 percent of the women who chose to take the project's confidential HIV antibody test. Variables measuring drug treatment history and prior exposure to AIDS interventions also remained stable over time. Findings indicated that AIDS education and prevention activities in drug treatment and other settings must emphasize the sexual risks as well as the drug use risks associated with crack use. Findings suggested that the current generalized mass-media educational campaigns are not enough by themselves to induce positive behavior change in this unique population of drug users. Targeted drug treatment programs and other HIV risk reduction interventions are needed to stem the HIV epidemic among women crack users. Tables and 52 references (Author abstract modified)