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Stimulant Use and Sexual Risk Behaviors for HIV in Rural North Carolina
Author(s) -
Zule William A.,
Costenbader Elizabeth,
Coomes Curtis M.,
Meyer William J.,
Riehman Kara,
Poehlman Jon,
Wechsberg Wendee M.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the journal of rural health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.439
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1748-0361
pISSN - 0890-765X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1748-0361.2007.00127.x
Subject(s) - context (archaeology) , medicine , stimulant , demography , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , psychiatry , substance abuse , rural area , transactional sex , nexus (standard) , environmental health , clinical psychology , psychology , family medicine , population , geography , archaeology , pathology , sociology , computer science , research methodology , embedded system
Context: While literature exists on sexual risks for HIV among rural populations, the specific role of stimulants in increasing these risks has primarily been studied in the context of a single drug and/or racial group. Purpose: This study explores the use of multiple stimulants and sexual risk behaviors among individuals of different races and sexual identities in rural North Carolina. Methods: In‐depth interviews were conducted with 41 individuals in 3 rural North Carolina counties between June 2004 and December 2005. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed and reviewed for accuracy. Edited interviews were imported into Atlas.ti and askSam for analysis. Findings: Along with marijuana, stimulants—including powder cocaine, crack, and methamphetamine—were the most frequently used illicit drugs in these counties. Powder cocaine use was more closely associated with white participants, crack with African Americans, and both were more commonly used by female participants. Participants reported 3 overlapping behaviors involving stimulant use that may be associated with increased risk of HIV infection: engaging in sex while using drugs, sex trading and group sex. Nearly half of participants reported engaging in group sex activity. Conclusions: HIV risk through injection appears to be low in these rural counties. However, nearly all study participants reported some form of sexual risk behavior that may increase transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Further research is warranted focusing on the nexus between substance abuse and risky sexual behaviors .