Gender differences between predictors of HIV status among PWID in Ukraine

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Social Science

Background:

• Ukraine faces a significant HIV epidemic, with increasing sexual transmission alongside traditional injection risk behaviors.
• Women in Ukraine exhibit higher HIV rates and engage in more risk behaviors compared to men.
• This study investigates risk factors for HIV status specifically differentiating between men and women among people who inject drugs (PWID).

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify risk factors that differentially predict HIV status in men and women who inject drugs in Ukraine.
• To inform the development of targeted HIV prevention strategies.
• To address the growing HIV epidemic in Ukraine.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 2480 sexually active people who inject drugs (PWID) with unknown HIV status from three Ukrainian cities (July 2010-July 2013).
• Utilized street outreach for participant recruitment.
• Collected data on demographics, HIV knowledge, self-efficacy, and risky behaviors (injection and sexual).

Main Results:

• Women (28% of sample) had higher safe sex self-efficacy and HIV knowledge but also higher risky injection and sex behavior scores than men.
• Risky sexual behaviors were more strongly associated with HIV status in women than in men.
• Predictors for risky injection and sexual behaviors were identified.

Conclusions:

• Gender-specific interventions are recommended to address HIV risk among women who inject drugs in Ukraine.
• Findings highlight the need to focus intervention efforts on high-risk groups and individuals to halt HIV spread.
• Targeted strategies can help manage the HIV epidemic in Ukraine.