Housing status and associated differences in HIV risk behaviors among young injection drug users (IDUs)

Micaela H. Coady, Mary H. Latka, Hanne Thiede, Elizabeth T. Golub, Larry Ouellet, Sharon M. Hudson, Farzana Kapadia, Richard S. Garfein

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Using cross-sectional analysis we examined residential status and associated differences in HIV risk behaviors among 3266 young IDUs enrolled in an HIV prevention trial. A three-level outcome (homeless (37%), equivocally housed (17%), housed (46%)) was defined based on responses to two questions assessing subjective and objective criteria for homelessness: "equivocally housed" participants were discordant on these measures. In multivariate analysis, antecedents of homelessness were having lived in an out-of-home placement, been thrown out of the home or in juvenile detention, and experienced childhood abuse; while correlates included receiving income from other and illegal sources, drinking alcohol or using methamphetamine at least daily, using shooting galleries, backloading, and sex work. A subset of these variables was associated with being equivocally housed. HIV risk varies by housing status, with homeless IDUs at highest risk. Programs for IDUs should utilize a more specific definition of residential status to target IDUs needing intervention.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)854-863
Number of pages10
JournalAIDS and Behavior
Volume11
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2007

Keywords

  • HIV
  • Homeless
  • Housing status
  • Injection drug user
  • Risk behavior

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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

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