Estimating the Effect of Depression on HIV Transmission Risk Behaviors Among People Who Inject Drugs in Vietnam: A Causal Approach

Sara N. Levintow, Brian W. Pence, Kimberly A. Powers, Teerada Sripaipan, Tran Viet Ha, Viet Anh Chu, Vu Minh Quan, Carl A. Latkin, Vivian Go

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The burden of depression and HIV is high among people who inject drugs (PWID), yet the effect of depression on transmission risk behaviors is not well understood in this population. Using causal inference methods, we analyzed data from 455 PWID living with HIV in Vietnam 2009–2013. Study visits every 6 months over 2 years measured depressive symptoms in the past week and injecting and sexual behaviors in the prior 3 months. Severe depressive symptoms (vs. mild/no symptoms) increased injection equipment sharing (risk difference [RD] = 3.9 percentage points, 95% CI −1.7, 9.6) but not condomless sex (RD = −1.8, 95% CI −6.4, 2.8) as reported 6 months later. The cross-sectional association with injection equipment sharing at the same visit (RD = 6.2, 95% CI 1.4, 11.0) was stronger than the longitudinal effect. Interventions on depression among PWID may decrease sharing of injection equipment and the corresponding risk of HIV transmission. Clinical trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01689545.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)438-446
Number of pages9
JournalAIDS and behavior
Volume25
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2021

Keywords

  • Depressive symptoms
  • HIV transmission
  • Injecting behavior
  • Marginal structural models
  • People who inject drugs
  • Sexual behavior

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Social Psychology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Infectious Diseases

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