Exchanging sex for crack-cocaine : a comparison of women from rural and urban communities

FRANÇAIS :
Des rapports indiquent que les taux de syphilis et d'infection VIH ont beaucoup plus augmenté dans les zones rurales que dans les zones urbaines. L'étude compare les risques VIH chez 60 femmes utilisatrices de crack en zones urbaines (Miami) et en zones rurales (Sud de la Georgie) et compare leurs pratiques sexuelles et leurs pratiques d'injection ainsi que leurs connaissances sur le SIDA et la transmission du VIH. On remarque que leurs habitudes sexuelles et d'injection sont identiques. Cependant les femmes de Miami ont tendance à avoir plus de partenaires sexuels que celles de Georgie. Toutes connaissent les risques VIH mais toutes ont des pratiques qui les mettent en danger par rapport à sa transmission. 12% sont séropositives. L'étude conclut qu'il y a donc peu de différences entre les pratiques sexuelles, les usages d'injection et les risques potentiels d'infection VIH entre les deux communautés.
ENGLISH :
Reports indicate that the rates of syphilis and HIV infection have shown greater increases in rural areas than in urban ones. This paper reports the findings of a comparative study of 60 female crack-cocaine users, 25 from rural southeast Georgia and 35 from Miami, to determine their drug using and sexual practices, as well as their knowledge about AIDS and HIV transmission. Their patterns of initial and continuous drug use were similar, as were their sexual practices. However, the Miami women were more likely to have had a greater number of sexual partners than the Georgia women. Both groups were knowledgeable about AIDS and the transmission of HIV, yet all participated in activities that put them at high risk for HIV infection and tranmission. Some 12 percent of the 60 respondents reported testing positive for HIV. There are few differences between rural and urban crack using women in terms of their crack use, sexual practices, and potential for HIV infection and transmission. (From authors' abstract)