HIV infection among injecting drug users in the South Australian methadone program

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Abstract
To investigate risk factors for infection with HIV among injecting drug users (IDUs) in South Australia. Retrospective case-control study comparing HIV-infected and uninfected IDUs who had received methadone at any time between January 1981 and June 1991. Most HIV-infected clients were diagnosed between 1985 and 1987. Men were more likely to be infected than women. A history of imprisonment was associated with a higher risk of infection on univariate but not multivariate analysis. Infected IDUs on average were three years younger than noninfected IDUs when they first injected drugs. Prevention programs should target young drug injectors. Prisons are important places to institute prevention programs.