Correlates of Double Risk of HIV Acquisition and Transmission Among Women who Inject Drugs in St. Petersburg, Russia

Russia continues to experience a growing HIV epidemic, and women account for an increasing proportion of new HIV diagnoses in the country. This study aims to provide up-to-date information on factors associated with unsafe sex and drug use behaviors among women who inject drugs in St. Petersburg, Russia. In this community-based sample of 500 women who inject drugs, 64% tested positive for HIV. Women reported the following: 21% reported injection risk, 22% reported sexual risk, and 18% reported double risk. Multivariable analyses using logistic multinomial regression showed that older age is associated with increased risk behaviors. Involvement in transactional sex is associated with injection risk [aOR = 1.59 (1.02, 2.48)] but protective against sexual risk [aOR = 0.11 (0.06, 0.19)]. Exposure to sexual violence is associated with increased injection risk [aOR = 1.78 (1.01, 3.14)] and double risk [aOR = 3.38 (1.50, 7.63)]. These findings indicate the need to address both the unsafe injection and sexual risks among women who inject drugs in Russia.