PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Z Amsel

Publications and source records attributed to Z Amsel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

HIV infection and AIDS risk behaviors among intravenous drug users entering methadone treatment in selected U.S. cities.

To assess trends in HIV infection and AIDS risk behaviors among intravenous drug users (IVDUs), a series of nonblinded point-prevalence surveys was conducted with admissions to methadone treatment in seven areas, including New York City; Trenton and Asbury Park, New Jersey; Baltimore; Chicago; San Antonio, Texas; and Los Angeles County between February and December 1987 (n = 713), January and June 1988 (n = 1,089), July and December 1988 (n = 932), and January and June 1989 (n = 1,110). Over the 2-year period, significant changes in HIV seropositivity levels were found in only one of the seven cities (Chicago, with levels increasing from 8.4 to 14.7%). High levels of AIDS risk behaviors (frequency of injection, needle sharing, needle cleaning, and use of shooting galleries) were found in all cities. Comparisons of trends in recent risk behaviors (past year) within cities suggest that relatively little reduction in AIDS risk behaviors had occurred during the study.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

Heterosexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus among intravenous drug users.

To examine sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among heterosexual intravenous drug users (IVDUs), HIV antibody status of IVDUs with intravenous drug-using sexual partners (IVSPs) was compared with that of IVDUs with no IVSPs. Initial bivariate analyses indicated IVDUs with IVSPs were more likely to be HIV antibody-positive than those with no IVSPs. Analyses by gender indicated that this relationship held for men but not women. IVDUs with IVSPs also differed from those without IVSPs demographically, in drug use, and in other sexual behaviors. When effects of other variables were controlled, no statistically significant relationship was found between injection history of sex partners and HIV status for the total sample or separately for men or women.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Community prevention efforts to reduce the spread of AIDS associated with intravenous drug abuse.

Drug abusers currently represent almost 30% of AIDS cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control. Intravenous drug abusers have been recognized as a major vector for the spread of HIV to the general public. Considering the high levels of AIDS risk behaviors among intravenous drug abusers, prevention efforts to reduce risk are a priority. Since community prevention approaches have been found effective with other target populations, this article considers community prevention as an AIDS reduction strategy. Consensus recommendations developed by a panel of researchers and practitioners who met at the National Institute on Drug Abuse in 1988 are presented. Specific recommendations for community prevention with intravenous drug abusers and their sex partners are introduced along with suggested research initiatives.

Community Health Services↗
PubMed1989

Introduction of HIV infection among intravenous drug abusers in low prevalence areas.

To explore the introduction of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection into intravenous drug abusing populations, risk behaviors of 1,154 intravenous drug abusers (IVDAs) in four U.S. cities with low prevalence of IVDA/HIV infection (0.9-13.0%) were examined. Seropositive subjects (N = 54) were compared with demographically matched seronegative controls regarding drug use practices, homosexual contact, blood transfusions, risk behaviors while traveling or living in high prevalence areas, and acquaintance with persons with AIDS. With the exception of needle sharing with homosexual/bisexual males, no differences in risk behaviors were found between seropositive subjects and matched seronegatives. Seropositives were substantially more likely than matched seronegatives to report having shared a needle with a homosexual or bisexual male, suggesting that needle sharing between homosexual/bisexual IVDAs and heterosexual IVDAs may be an important means by which HIV is introduced among heterosexual IVDAs in low prevalence areas.

Adult↗