Chapter 8 HIV RISK BEHAVIOR AND BELIEFS OF HIV-SEROPOSITIVE DRUG USERS

In relation to injecting drug use, many European and U.S. efforts to prevent new HIV infections focus on sexual and injecting risk behavior of persons who are not infected (both injectors and sexual partners of injectors). Behavioral changes among these HIVnegatives are given that knowledge and means are present dependent on a desire for self-protection against HIV infection. However, in order to prevent new HIV infections, it seems equally important to focus prevention programs at the smaller group of HIV-seropositive (HIV+) DUs. One reason for safe behavior among HIV+ DUs might be the belief that AIDS can be postponed by avoiding reor other infections. However, to our knowledge, no evidence for this belief has been reported. Next to this desire for self protection, safe behavior of HIV-positive drug users depends on the wish to protect their injecting and/or sexual partners from acquiring HIV, which could be termed a wish for "other-protection".