TY - JOUR
T1 - Sexually transmitted diseases in a population of intravenous drug users
T2 - Association with seropositivity to the human immunodeficiency virus (hiv)
AU - Vlahov, David
AU - Cohn, Sylvia
AU - Mercy Odunmbaku, M. O.
AU - Lindsay, Arlette
AU - Anthony, James C.
AU - Hook, Edward W.
N1 - Funding Information:
Financial support: National Institutes of Health (DA-04334, DA-05664, AI-27727).
PY - 1991
Y1 - 1991
N2 - The association between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositivity and a history of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), evidence of STDs on physical examination, and sexual and drug use practices was studied in a population of 2921 intravenous drug users (IVDUs) in Baltimore during 1988 and 1989. Overall, 24.1% were HIV-seropositive at baseline, and 60% reported a history of an STD. A significant association was found between HIV seropositivity and a history of syphilis (P =.04); both were more frequent among homosexual/bisexual men than among heterosexual IVDUs. In multivariate analysis, a history of syphilis was independently associated with HIV seroprevalence in homosexual/bisexual male IVDUs, of whom 90% reported a history of sexual intercourse with women. Cocaine injection was independently associated with HIV seropositivity but not a history of syphilis on multivariate analysis. STDs, indicative of unsafe sex practices, are common in this population; efforts are needed to prevent sexual transmission of HIV infection among IVDUs and their sex partners.
AB - The association between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositivity and a history of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), evidence of STDs on physical examination, and sexual and drug use practices was studied in a population of 2921 intravenous drug users (IVDUs) in Baltimore during 1988 and 1989. Overall, 24.1% were HIV-seropositive at baseline, and 60% reported a history of an STD. A significant association was found between HIV seropositivity and a history of syphilis (P =.04); both were more frequent among homosexual/bisexual men than among heterosexual IVDUs. In multivariate analysis, a history of syphilis was independently associated with HIV seroprevalence in homosexual/bisexual male IVDUs, of whom 90% reported a history of sexual intercourse with women. Cocaine injection was independently associated with HIV seropositivity but not a history of syphilis on multivariate analysis. STDs, indicative of unsafe sex practices, are common in this population; efforts are needed to prevent sexual transmission of HIV infection among IVDUs and their sex partners.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0026091852&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0026091852&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/infdis/164.3.457
DO - 10.1093/infdis/164.3.457
M3 - Article
C2 - 1869836
AN - SCOPUS:0026091852
SN - 0022-1899
VL - 164
SP - 457
EP - 463
JO - Journal of Infectious Diseases
JF - Journal of Infectious Diseases
IS - 3
ER -