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Objective: To determine if significant differences exist in substance use among people living with HIV//AIDS (PLWHA) before and after establishing their HIV infection status. Method: The study participants are HIV positive clients of a community based HIV//AIDS outreach facility located in Montgomery, Alabama. The questionnaire includes demographics, substance use and risky sexual behaviors pertaining to HIV transmission. Each participant completed an anonymous questionnaire. A total of 341 questionnaires were distributed and 326 were fully completed and returned, representing a response rate of 96%%. Results: Findings revealed a statistically significant difference in alcohol consumption before sex among PLWHA before and after establishing their HIV infection status ( p == .001). No significant differences were observed among participants who reported as having used drugs intravenously ( p == .89), and among those sharing the same syringe//needle with another person ( p == .87) before and after establishing their HIV infection status. Conclusion: There is continued substance use and alcohol consumption before sex among PLWHA after establishing their HIV status despite clear evidence of such risky behaviors that could lead to an increase in exposure to HIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine if there was a significant association between substance use and risky sexual behaviors among middle school children. Methods: Data were collected in May 2002 using a questionnaire. A chi-square test was used for data analysis. Results: The results showed that alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, and tobacco use are strong predictors of risky sexual behaviors. Conclusions: These findings will be of use to healthcare practitioners and health educators seeking to reduce the risk of infection with HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases among the middle school children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]