[Sex and drug: correlation of risk perception and behavioral patterns among intravenous drug users].

Background: Hungary is a country which has low level of HIV infection and relatively low HCV and HBC prevalence among intravenous drug users (IDUs). Despite this favourable situation, due to the proximity of some Eastern European countries which have high prevalence and incidence of HIV, HCV and HBV infections, there is a potential danger of a rapid outbreak of AIDS and hepatitis epidemic. These infectious diseases can be transmitted through needle and equipment sharing as well as by sexual contact among IDUs, with the latter one receiving less emphasis in the research related to the use of injected drugs. Assessing the relationship between the perception of the risks involved in i.v. drug use and sexual acts and the subsequent behaviour is indispensable for predicting present and future trends among i.v. drug users.

Aims: To assess the correlation between 1. IDUs' risk perception and behaviour with respect to drug use and sex, 2. IDUs' risk perception concerning drug use and sex, 3. IDUs' behaviour concerning drug use and sex as well as 4. to categorize IDUs according to their risk perception and behaviour.

Method: A total of 197 IDUs were interviewed in Budapest, using a questionnaire developed by National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), which is applied partly to assess the risks involved in drug use and in various forms of sexual behaviour. Correlation between risk perception and behaviour was assessed by bivariate (cross-tables) and multivariate quantitative analyses (factor, cluster analyses).

Result: IDUs underestimate the dangers of having sex while under the effect of a drug (heroin) but perceive intravenous use as the most dangerous way of drug abuse. As regards the relationship between risk perception and subsequent behaviour, although IDUs seem to perceive the risks associated with sex and intravenous drug use, they do not act accordingly both in their sexual behaviour and drug use. It has also been shown that risk-takers in drug use will behave in a risky way in their sexual activity.

Conclusions: When intervention strategies targeted at IDUs are worked out, users' perception of sexual risk and behaviour should be taken into consideration as well. Interventions should also be developed considering the heterogeneity of the population of intravenous drug users.