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AIDS‐Related Knowledge and High‐Risk Behaviors of Pregnant, Substance‐Dependent Women
Author(s) -
Elk Ronith,
Andres Robert,
Helfgott Andrew,
Rhoades Howard,
Mangus Lorna,
Mirza Iman,
Burroughs Ramona,
Grabowski John
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
the american journal on addictions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.997
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-0391
pISSN - 1055-0496
DOI - 10.1111/j.1521-0391.1996.tb00314.x
Subject(s) - condom , medicine , population , risky sexual behavior , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , addiction , drug , sexual behavior , psychology , clinical psychology , family medicine , psychiatry , environmental health , sexually active , syphilis
The authors investigated AIDS‐related knowledge, high‐risk behaviors, and relationships between AIDS‐related knowledge, high‐risk behaviors, and sociodemographic characteristics of 41 pregnant women entering treatment who were dependent on cocaine or opiates. At entry, patients completed self‐report questionnaires on AIDS‐related knowledge and sexual and drug use practices. There was a high rate of understanding of risk associated with drug use and perinatal transmission of HIV. Knowledge of high‐risk sexual behavior varied, and knowledge of the medical consequences of HIV was modest. Engagement in several high‐risk behaviors was identified: lack of condom use, intravenous drug use, sharing of needles, sex with an injecting drug user, and exchanging sex for money or drugs. AIDS‐related knowledge and engagement in high‐risk behaviors were not significantly correlated. Authors discussed implications of these findings for developing effective HIV prevention strategies in this population. (American Journal on Addictions 1996; 5:292–300)