Are decreases in drug use risk associated with reductions in HIV sex risk behaviors among adults in an urban hospital primary care setting?

Role of Social Network Sexual Norms and Behaviors on the HIV Sexual Risk Behaviors of People Who Inject Drugs in HPTN 037

This study examined the effect of social network descriptive sexual norms and behaviors on the sexual behaviors of people who inject drugs (PWID). Data from HPTN037 of 232 PWID (egos) and 464 network members (alters) were used in multilevel multivariate logistic regression models. Egos whose alters reported multiple sex partners had greater odds of multiple sex partners (aOR 2.20, 1.13-4.29). Egos' norms of condomless sex with primary (aOR 2.67, 1.15-6.17) and casual (aOR 2.38, 1.01-5.59) partners and egos' norms of giving (aOR 5.52, 1.87-16.25) and receiving (aOR 7.38, 1.34-40.66) money/drugs for sex were associated with the egos' respective behaviors. History of sex between an ego and alter was not associated with increased influence of alters' norms and behaviors on egos' sexual behavior. Findings provide support for developing interventions that target descriptive norms and selective network behavioral characteristics to decrease sexual HIV risk behavior among PWID.

Factors Affecting HIV Testing among Youth in Kenya

With the high prevalence of HIV among youth in sub-Saharan Africa, it is vital to better understand factors affecting HIV testing among this population; this is the first step in the HIV treatment cascade. The purpose of this study was to examine factors related to behavioral intentions regarding HIV testing using existing pre-test data from the HIV SEERs (Stigma-reduction via Education, Empowerment, and Research) Project, a community-based participatory research program targeting 13-24-year-olds in Kenya. It was hypothesized that HIV knowledge, social support, subjective well-being, and mental health (depression, anxiety, and stress) would serve as facilitators to HIV testing while projected stigma and substance use would serve as barriers to HIV testing. In partial support of our hypotheses, findings from logistic regression analyses revealed that HIV knowledge, substance use, depression, and social support were significant predictors of HIV testing intentions. However, HIV knowledge and substance use served as facilitators while depression and social support served as barriers. While projected stigma was correlated with HIV testing intentions, it was not a significant predictor in the regression analysis. Subjective well-being, anxiety, and stress were not significant predictors in the regression analysis. These findings have important implications for HIV testing initiatives designed for youth in Kenya as well as future research on HIV testing with this population.