1. Sexual behavior, attitudes toward safer sex, and gender among a cohort of 244 recovering i.v. drug users.
- Author
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Schilling RF, el-Bassel N, Schinke SP, Nichols S, Botvin GJ, and Orlandi MA
- Subjects
- Adult, Cohort Studies, Contraceptive Devices, Male, Female, HIV Infections prevention & control, HIV Infections psychology, HIV Infections transmission, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Heroin Dependence psychology, Heroin Dependence rehabilitation, Humans, Male, New Jersey, New York City, Attitude, Gender Identity, Methadone therapeutic use, Opioid-Related Disorders psychology, Opioid-Related Disorders rehabilitation, Sexual Behavior, Substance Abuse, Intravenous psychology, Substance Abuse, Intravenous rehabilitation
- Abstract
Heterosexual contact with drug users is a major route of AIDS transmission. This study of 135 male and 109 female methadone maintenance patients described subjects' sexual behavior, preventive practices and attitudes toward safer sex; explored ethnic-racial differences in high risk sexual behavior and attitudes; and examined the relationship between attitudes toward safer sex and frequency of condom use for men and women. Reported condom use was low, and it correlated with attitudes toward safer sex. Men tended to report higher rates of sexual risk-taking, although women reported more frequent sex with IV drug users. Study findings have implications for developing intervention strategies to reduce risk behavior associated with HIV transmission.
- Published
- 1991
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