Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026
19:57
An Affordable HIV-1 Drug Resistance Monitoring Method for Resource Limited Settings
Published on: March 30, 2014
Drug use, travel and HIV risk
1Affiliated Systems Corporation, Houston, Texas 77027, USA. asc@phoenix.net
AIDS Care
|September 3, 2002
Summary
Travelers engaging in intercity travel reported fewer sexual partners without condoms compared to those who stayed home. HIV-positive travelers engaged in more sexual activity but used condoms more frequently.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Social Science
Background:
- Understanding travel-related health risks is crucial for HIV prevention.
- Previous research has not fully explored travel behaviors and associated risks within diverse populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the travel experiences of drug users and non-users.
- To examine HIV risk behaviors associated with intercity travel.
Main Methods:
- A community sample of 160 drug users and 44 non-users was surveyed about travel history and sexual behaviors.
- Participants were tested for HIV status.
Main Results:
- 47% of the sample reported intercity travel in the past decade.
- Men, Anglos, and younger individuals were more likely to travel.
- HIV-positive travelers reported more sexual activity but used condoms more frequently than HIV-negative travelers.
- No significant differences in sexual risk behaviors were found between drug users and non-users, or between drug injectors and non-injectors while traveling.
- Travelers reported fewer injection partners and fewer sex partners without condoms while traveling compared to at home.
Conclusions:
- Intercity travel is common among this sample, with demographic variations.
- While HIV-positive travelers engaged in more sexual activity, condom use was prevalent.
- Travel itself did not appear to increase overall sexual risk behaviors, and may even reduce some risks like unprotected sex and injection-related exposures.
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