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This paper describes HIV sex and drug risk behavior and behavior change of injection drug and crack cocaine using women enrolled in a national multi-site Cooperative Agreement program. Baseline data on the 1,403 women who were randomly assigned to a two session intervention that was standardized across sites indicate that sex and drug risk behavior for becoming infected with HIV was considerable. Six-month post intervention follow-up data for the same sample of women show that significant reductions in sex and drug risk behavior were observed for the entire sample of women for the risk variables under study. Significant reductions were also demonstrated for various sub-groups of women enrolled in the study on most of the sex and drug risk variables. Given these findings, it appears that the standard intervention was effective in assisting drug using women reduce their behaviors that put them at risk of becoming infected with HIV. Further research is needed on the development and evaluation of HIV interventions that target specific risk behaviors and various HIV risk behavior profiles of women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Violence and HIV are emerging as interconnected public health hazards among drug users and their families. The purposes of this study. are to (1) determine the prevalence of sexual and physical abuse of non-drug-using female sex partners of mate drug users, and (2) ascertain the association. between such violence and HIV-related risk behaviors. Methods: From 11/93 to 11/95, 208 female sex partners of injection drug or crack users in Collier County, FL, Tucson, AZ, and Portland, OF, were interviewed as part of a NIDA-funded HIV risk reduction project. Their mean age was 30 years (range 18-54); 21 % were White, 6% African American, 7% Native American, and 63% Hispanic. Results: Of the 208 women, 28% reported being sexually molested and 20% raped before age 13; 41% reported being raped at least once in their lifetime. Forty-two percent of the women were physically assaulted by their sex partners; 36% had been threatened with assault by their sex partners. Those who were raped or threatened with assault were more likely to have multiple sex partners and engage in unprotected anal sex; there was a trend for women who had been physically assaulted to be more likely to engage in unprotected anal sex. Discussion: Rape, assault and the threat of assault are commonplace in the histories of female sex partners of male drug users. Experiences of violence and threats of violence are associated with heightened risk for the sexual transmission of HIV. Providers of HIV prevention need to understand the sequelae of violence, and design interventions which empower women to protect themselves from sexual transmission of HIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]