Tanzania AIDs Prevention Project - Vijana Wateja (Young Injectors) Study

University Of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston, Houston TX

Investigators

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Abstract

[unreadable] DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Young injection drug users (IDUs) are at increased risk of HIV infection and may engage in behaviors that pose greater risk of infection than older injectors. Young IDUs may also engage in risk behaviors with higher risk partners selected in places known to be associated with high risk of HIV infection. The co occurrence of risky behaviors and risky needle use and sexual partnering strongly suggest that individual level factors alone cannot account for higher levels of infection among young IDUs. Patterns of concurrent needle use and sexual partnering and partner mixing may be equally important. Concurrent partnering is the connection of two partners through a common actor. Partner mixing is the connection between two unlike individuals. [unreadable] [unreadable] While both concurrent partnering and partner mixing have been shown to be associated with HIV [unreadable] Infection, the interaction between them has received little attention. Furthermore, most studies focusing on partnering have investigated sexual, but not needle use partnering. In the case of injection drug users (IDUs), both needle use and sexual partnering are relevant to HIV infection. The purpose of the Tanzania AIDS Prevention Project - Vijana Wateja (Young Injectors) Study is to examine the effects of needle use and sexual concurrent partnering, partner mixing, and their interactions on the likelihood of HIV infection in a sample of young injection drug users. The aims of the study are to: investigate the association between concurrent partnering and HIV infection; investigate the association between partner mixing and HIV infection; investigate the interactive association between concurrent partnering and partner mixing and HIV infection; and develop a model of the effects of needle use and sexual current partnering and partner mixing on the risk of HIV infection. [unreadable] [unreadable] The study will be guided by the social network paradigm and will be implemented using a cross-sectional, egocentric network design. A purposeful sample of 300 sexually active IDUs between the ages of 16 to 25 will be recruited to participate. The sample will be composed of equal numbers of young men and women. Data collected from participants will include personal, network, and biological data. The independent variables of interest will be partner mixing, concurrent partnering, and their interactions within egocentric drug use and sexual networks. These data will be used to estimate univariate odds ratios and a multivariate model of the effects of partner mixing and concurrent partnering on HIV infection in networks of young IDUs. [unreadable] [unreadable] [unreadable]