A comparison of HIV risk behaviors between early and late initiators of injection drug use in Houston, Texas

作者：Rehman Hafeez U^*; Noor Syed W; Chronister Karen J; Wolverton Marcia L; Taiym Wafa; Arafat Raouf R

来源：Journal of Substance Use, 2014, 19(4): 307-312.

DOI：10.3109/14659891.2013.804604

• HIV risk behaviors
• injecting drug use
• young injecting drug users

Background: Injecting drug use accounts for 10% of new HIV cases worldwide. Younger injecting drug users are more likely to engage in HIV risk behaviors. Objectives: To assess the association between the age at initiation of injecting drugs and HIV risk behaviors. Methods: Houston data from the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System were analyzed. The primary exposure variable was the self-reported age at injecting drug initiation. This study assessed whether individuals who initiated injecting drugs before and after the age of 21 differ by selected socio-demographic characteristics and high risk behaviors. Results: Black race and lower education level were shown to be the only statistically significant factors with those self-reported to initiate injecting drugs before turning 21. The group initiating use before the age of 21 was found to be more likely to share needles. Conclusions: This study highlights that race and education are positively associated with younger injecting drug initiation and younger injectors tend to engage in HIV risk behaviors such as needle sharing.

• 出版日期2014