HIV drug and sex risk behaviors among American Indian and Alaska native drug users: Gender and site differences

Little research has been conducted on HIV drug and sex risk behaviors of American Indians and Alaska Natives who use illicit drugs. Data from studies conducted with other ethnic groups indicate differences in HIV drug and sex risk behaviors of men and women and between drug users from different regions, cities, communities, and intervention sites. This study examines whether these differences in HIV drug and sex risk behaviors also exist for American Indians and Alaska Natives. Results indicate that risk behaviors of American Indians and Alaska Natives do differ like that of other ethnic groups. In particular American Indian and Alaska Native women reported engaging in significantly greater levels of some drug and many sex risk behaviors than men. Significant differences between intervention sites were also found for intensity of use of various drugs and for some HIV drug risk behaviors.