AEGiS-NHIVPC: Impact of Comorbidity on HIV Risk Behaviors among a Cohort of Hispanic Drug Injectors in Puerto Rico

National HIV Prevention Conference

Atlanta, Georgia, USA — July 27 - 30, 2003

Impact of Comorbidity on HIV Risk Behaviors among a Cohort of Hispanic Drug Injectors in Puerto Rico

Natl HIV Prev Conf 2003 July 27-30:abstract no. MP-090
Robles RR, Reyes JC, Colon HM, Matos TD, Sahai H, Marrero CA, Calderon J; Center for Addiction Studies, School of Medicine, Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamon, Puerto Rico

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES:: Comorbidity due to multiple health conditions has been associated with homelessness, mortality, and low completion rates of drug treatment and prevention programs among drug users. However, the role of comorbidity in understanding HIV risk behaviors has been under-researched. This study assessed the association between comorbidity and HIV risk behaviors among a cohort of Hispanic drug injectors in Puerto Rico.

METHODS: The study sample consisted of 556 injection drug users (IDUs), not-in-treatment, recruited in poor communities in Puerto Rico. A six-item comorbidity index was constructed from various health scales. HIV risk behaviors were measured using an instrument adapted from the NIDA Risk Behavior Assessment Scale.

RESULTS: The overall sample mean for the comorbidity index was 8.3 (range 0-17, SD=3.8). IDUs with the higher scores on the comorbidity index were more likely to be female, older, less educated, homeless, and have more years of injection. Logistic regression analysis showed that IDUs with higher scores on the index were more likely to pool money to buy drugs (OR=5.3, CI: 2.6-10.8), share needles (OR=3.0, CI: 1.1-8.1) and inject drugs in shooting galleries (OR=3.9, 1.6-9.3).

CONCLUSIONS: Health risk behaviors among drug users should be taken seriously by clinicians and preventive programs as indicators of underlying conditions that could increase risk for HIV seropositivity and other illnesses.

Keywords: Puerto Rico, Risk-Taking, Hispanic Americans, HIV Infections, Needle Sharing, HIV Seropositivity, Behavior, Health Behavior, Homeless Persons, Commonwealth of Independent States, Female, epidemiology

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MP-090