TITLE:
Prevalence and Incidence of HIV and Sexual Risk Behaviors in Crack Users in the San Salvador Metropolitan Area, El Salvador
AUTHORS:
Julia Dickson-Gomez, Julia Lechuga, Laura Glasman, Steven Pinkerton, Gloria Bodnar, Pamela Klein
KEYWORDS:
Incidence and Prevalence of HIV; Sexual Risk Behavior; Crack; El Salvador
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of AIDS,
Vol.3 No.4,
December
23,
2013
ABSTRACT:
Objective: It is in order to estimate the prevalence and incidence of HIV, the frequency of
sexual risk behaviors, and perceptions of available resources to prevent and
treat HIV among crack users in the San Salvador Metropolitan Area. Methods: We conducted a survey of 420
crack users by using
respondent-driven sampling to measure demographic characteristics, the quantity
and frequency of drug use, history of STIs, including HIV, and experiences with
organizations which provide prevention and treatment of HIV. Each participant offered a free
and voluntary HIV test and was asked permission to share the results of the test with the study.
Bernoullian modeling was used to estimate the prevalence and incidence of HIV
among heterosexual males in this population. Results: The estimated
prevalence was 7% (95% CI: 2.3% -9.8%) among participants who agreed to take the test and share the
results, and 4.9% (95% CI: 2.8% -7.8%) assuming that those who did not take the test
or share results were seronegative. Participants reported a high frequency of
sexual risk behaviors. In addition, participants were reported to have little knowledge of organizations to
prevent or treat HIV/AIDS; 58% had never taken an HIV test prior to survey
administration. Conclusions: Crack users in San Salvador are at high
risk for HIV acquisition. HIV prevention interventions are urgently needed,
especially interventions increasing access to HIV testing and prevention.