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Using epidemiological and social network research methods, this study examines gender differences in HIV risk and protective behaviors and social network characteristics among 193 young injection drug users (IDUs) and 127 referred members of their social networks. Respondents reported on their drug use, sexual behavior, and relationships within three types of social networks: hang out (i.e., friendship); drug use; and sexual networks. Most respondents were homeless and had experienced numerous life stressors. Females' social networks consisted more predominantly of drug injectors, and members more frequently appeared multiple networks. Females reported needle sharing more frequently than males, but also reported more protective behaviors such as needle exchange use and carrying clean syringes. Young female IDUs may compound their risk by having sex and injecting with higher risk partners. However, their propensity to practice protective behaviors may provide an opening for interventions to reduce their HIV risk and that of their social network members.

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This study examined whether preventive counseling of HIV-positive men (N = 255) was associated with self-disclosure of serostatus to sex partners. Men who reported being counseled at posttest and at their current HIV clinic to disclose their serostatus to partners were more likely to have done so than men counseled only at posttest, only at the HIV clinic, or not counseled at either site. Disclosure increased with the number of times counseled at the HIV clinic. These patterns held for HIV-negative partners, but not for HIV-positive or HIV-unknown partners. Disclosure to HIV-negative partners was associated with safer sexual practices. The findings suggest that counseling interventions for HIV-positive men, when delivered by multiple sources, may provide an effective means of increasing disclosure to sexual partners.

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