Document 2108
 DOCN  M94A2108
 TI    Behavioral patterns and HIV seroconversion among injecting drug users in
       Rome, in the early 1990s.
 DT    9412
 AU    Zaccarelli M; Gattari P; Rezza G; Spizzichino L; Portaleone A; Valenzi
       C; Visco G; Gigli B; III Divisione Malattie Infettive, Ospedale L.
       Spallanzani, Rome,; Italy.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):38 (abstract no. 125C). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94370467
 AB    INTRODUCTION: HIV infection has been epidemic among injecting drug users
       (IDUs) in Italy for over 10 years. More recently, an increasingly high
       rate of new infections has been observed in the three largest Italian
       cities, despite reports of empirical changes in drug taking practices.
       This study is aimed at identifying risk factors currently associated
       with HIV seroconversion among IDUs. METHODS: A brief standard interview
       was conducted among initially HIV negative IDUs, who underwent at least
       one subsequent HIV test between January 1992 and December 1993. RESULTS:
       Overall, 333 IDUs were retested, among whom 13 seroconversions (3.9%)
       were observed during the study period. Only 13.5% of participants
       reported needle-sharing overall and 11.4% with their sexual IDU partner.
       Moreover, in the past six months, 38.1% reported that they had sex with
       an IDU partner, but only 10.2% with a known HIV positive partner; 8.9%
       of males reported homosexuality. Variables significantly associated with
       seroconversion were: history of injection < 3 years (RR = 3.2; 95% CI =
       1.0-10.2), reported HIV positive partner (RR = 26.6; 95% CI = 7.6-92.4),
       reported IDU partner (RR = 5.8; 95% CI = 1.6-21.4), reported
       needle-sharing with IDU partner (RR = 5.3; 95% CI = 1.7-17.6), and
       reported syringe-mediated drug sharing (RR = 3.9; 95% CI = 1.1-13.3).
       Age < 21 years (RR = 3.4; 95% CI = 0.9-13.1) and reported needle-sharing
       in the past six months (RR = 3.0; 95% CI = 0.9-10.3) were found to be
       marginally associated. After multiple logistic regression analysis, only
       reported HIV sexual partner in the past six months (OR = 35.3; 95% CI =
       8.9-140.6) and age < 21 years (OR = 7.2; 95% CI = 1.3-39.6) were found
       to be significantly associated with seroconversion. CONCLUSIONS:
       Although the proportion of IDUs reporting needle-sharing still appears
       to be high, prevention efforts should focus on reducing sexual
       transmission of HIV, which, as our data indicate, is becoming
       increasingly relevant among IDUs in Rome.
 DE    Adolescence  Adult  AIDS Serodiagnosis  Female  Human  HIV
       Seropositivity/*PSYCHOLOGY  Male  Needle Sharing  Regression Analysis
       Rome/EPIDEMIOLOGY  Sex Behavior  Substance Abuse,
       Intravenous/COMPLICATIONS/*PSYCHOLOGY  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).