Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We examined correlates of HIV infection among injection drug users (IDUs) in Tijuana, Mexico, a city bordering the United States, which is situated on major migration and drug trafficking routes. METHODS: IDUs aged ≥18 years were recruited using respondent-driven sampling. Participants underwent antibody testing for HIV and syphilis and structured interviews. Weighted logistic regression identified correlates of HIV infection. RESULTS: Of 1056 IDUs, the median age was 37 years, 86% were male, and 76% were migrants. HIV prevalence was higher in female participants than in male participants (8% vs. 3%; P = 0.01). Most IDUs testing HIV-positive were previously unaware of their serostatus (93%). IDUs reported injecting with a median of 2 people in the prior 6 months and had been arrested for having injection stigmata (ie, "track-marks") a median of 3 times. Factors independently associated with HIV infection were being female, syphilis titers consistent with active infection, larger numbers of recent injection partners, living in Tijuana for a shorter duration, and being arrested for having track-marks. CONCLUSIONS: Individual, social, and environmental factors were independently associated with HIV infection among IDUs in Tijuana. These findings suggest the need to intervene not solely on individual risk behaviors but on social processes that drive these behaviors, including problematic policing practices.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 369-376 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes |
| Volume | 47 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 2008 |
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Keywords
- HIV
- Injection drug use
- Mexico
- Mobility
- Policing
- Sexually transmitted infections
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Virology
- Immunology
Cite this
Individual, social, and environmental influences associated with HIV infection among injection drug users in Tijuana, Mexico. / Strathdee, Steffanie A.; Lozada, Remedios; Pollini, Robin A.; Brouwer, Kimberly C.; Mantsios, Andrea; Abramovitz, Daniela A.; Rhodes, Tim; Latkin, Carl A; Loza, Oralia; Alvelais, Jorge; Magis-Rodriguez, Carlos; Patterson, Thomas L.
In: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, Vol. 47, No. 3, 03.2008, p. 369-376.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Individual, social, and environmental influences associated with HIV infection among injection drug users in Tijuana, Mexico
AU - Strathdee, Steffanie A.
AU - Lozada, Remedios
AU - Pollini, Robin A.
AU - Brouwer, Kimberly C.
AU - Mantsios, Andrea
AU - Abramovitz, Daniela A.
AU - Rhodes, Tim
AU - Latkin, Carl A
AU - Loza, Oralia
AU - Alvelais, Jorge
AU - Magis-Rodriguez, Carlos
AU - Patterson, Thomas L.
PY - 2008/3
Y1 - 2008/3
N2 - OBJECTIVE: We examined correlates of HIV infection among injection drug users (IDUs) in Tijuana, Mexico, a city bordering the United States, which is situated on major migration and drug trafficking routes. METHODS: IDUs aged ≥18 years were recruited using respondent-driven sampling. Participants underwent antibody testing for HIV and syphilis and structured interviews. Weighted logistic regression identified correlates of HIV infection. RESULTS: Of 1056 IDUs, the median age was 37 years, 86% were male, and 76% were migrants. HIV prevalence was higher in female participants than in male participants (8% vs. 3%; P = 0.01). Most IDUs testing HIV-positive were previously unaware of their serostatus (93%). IDUs reported injecting with a median of 2 people in the prior 6 months and had been arrested for having injection stigmata (ie, "track-marks") a median of 3 times. Factors independently associated with HIV infection were being female, syphilis titers consistent with active infection, larger numbers of recent injection partners, living in Tijuana for a shorter duration, and being arrested for having track-marks. CONCLUSIONS: Individual, social, and environmental factors were independently associated with HIV infection among IDUs in Tijuana. These findings suggest the need to intervene not solely on individual risk behaviors but on social processes that drive these behaviors, including problematic policing practices.
AB - OBJECTIVE: We examined correlates of HIV infection among injection drug users (IDUs) in Tijuana, Mexico, a city bordering the United States, which is situated on major migration and drug trafficking routes. METHODS: IDUs aged ≥18 years were recruited using respondent-driven sampling. Participants underwent antibody testing for HIV and syphilis and structured interviews. Weighted logistic regression identified correlates of HIV infection. RESULTS: Of 1056 IDUs, the median age was 37 years, 86% were male, and 76% were migrants. HIV prevalence was higher in female participants than in male participants (8% vs. 3%; P = 0.01). Most IDUs testing HIV-positive were previously unaware of their serostatus (93%). IDUs reported injecting with a median of 2 people in the prior 6 months and had been arrested for having injection stigmata (ie, "track-marks") a median of 3 times. Factors independently associated with HIV infection were being female, syphilis titers consistent with active infection, larger numbers of recent injection partners, living in Tijuana for a shorter duration, and being arrested for having track-marks. CONCLUSIONS: Individual, social, and environmental factors were independently associated with HIV infection among IDUs in Tijuana. These findings suggest the need to intervene not solely on individual risk behaviors but on social processes that drive these behaviors, including problematic policing practices.
KW - HIV
KW - Injection drug use
KW - Mexico
KW - Mobility
KW - Policing
KW - Sexually transmitted infections
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=42449102690&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=42449102690&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/QAI.0b013e318160d5ae
DO - 10.1097/QAI.0b013e318160d5ae
M3 - Article
C2 - 18176320
AN - SCOPUS:42449102690
VL - 47
SP - 369
EP - 376
JO - Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes
JF - Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes
SN - 1525-4135
IS - 3
ER -