Razak MH, Jittiwutikarn J, Vongchak T, Srirak N, Sawanpanyalert P, Wiriya M, Khamboonruang C, Suriyanon V, Celentano DD; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 2000 Jul 9-14; 13: abstract no. TuPeC3441.
M.H. Razak, 615 North Wolfe Street, Suite E7132, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States, Tel.: +1 410 955 13 56, Fax: +1 410 955 18 36, E-mail: our@loxinfo.co.th
Background: A sharp increase in methamphetamine use (Thai: "ya baa") among northern Thai adolescents has occurred since 1997. HIV risk may occur in these youth directly by injecting or indirectly by engaging in "unsafe" sex. We investigated the association between "ya baa" use and HIV risk among male patients admitted to Northern Drug Treatment Center (NDTC) in Chiang Mai. Methods: Recruitment at NDTC began in February, 1999. Demographic factors, drug, sex and STD history were determined by interview; HIV and STD were assessed serologically. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed on baseline data. Results: Between Feb. and Oct. 1999, 1218 (79%) of eligible male patients participated in the study. 935 (77%) of them reported having used "ya baa", 839 (90%) of them were current users (used in last 3 months). The majority (96%) used "ya baa" through inhalation but 3.3% injected together with other drugs and 0.7% ingested. 44% reported recent heroin or opium use as well. 25% of "ya baa" users reported having injected other drugs in their lifetime. 70% of injectors shared injection equipment. HIV prevalence was 2.3% among "ya baa" only users and 19.5% among those used other drugs as well. Current "ya baa" users were mainly youths (54% >25 yrs), unmarried (67%), sexually active (82%), had paid for sex (51%), did not use condoms consistently with wives (99%) or lovers (76%), and 25% reported having had an STD. Odds ratio and 95% CI of "ya baa" use on HIV was 1.0 (0.7, 1.3) after controlling for age, occupation, sex with CSW and injecting drug use(IDU). OR for IDU was 3.5(2.8, 4.5) in the model. Conclusion: Although "ya baa" use itself was not associated with HIV infection, it was associated with other high HIV risk behaviors (e.g., IDU and unsafe sex). With increasing "ya baa" use among youths in Thailand, HIV prevention programs and research should actively reach out to "ya baa" users.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Adolescent
- Demography
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Humans
- Male
- Methamphetamine
- Opium
- Prevalence
- Risk-Taking
- Substance Abuse, Intravenous
- Substance-Related Disorders
- Thailand
Other ID:
UI: 102239400
From Meeting Abstracts