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. 1998 Dec;88(12):1801–1806. doi: 10.2105/ajph.88.12.1801

Declining seroprevalence in a very large HIV epidemic: injecting drug users in New York City, 1991 to 1996.

D C Des Jarlais 1, T Perlis 1, S R Friedman 1, S Deren 1, T Chapman 1, J L Sotheran 1, S Tortu 1, M Beardsley 1, D Paone 1, L V Torian 1, S T Beatrice 1, E DeBernardo 1, E Monterroso 1, M Marmor 1
PMCID: PMC1509056  PMID: 9842377

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed recent trends in HIV seroprevalence among injecting drug users in New York City. METHODS: We analyzed temporal trends in HIV seroprevalence from 1991 through 1996 in 5 studies of injecting drug users recruited from a detoxification program, a methadone maintenance program, research storefronts in the Lower East Side and Harlem areas, and a citywide network of sexually transmitted disease clinics. A total of 11,334 serum samples were tested. RESULTS: From 1991 through 1996, HIV seroprevalence declined substantially among subjects in all 5 studies: from 53% to 36% in the detoxification program, from 45% to 29% in the methadone program, from 44% to 22% at the Lower East Side storefront, from 48% to 21% at the Harlem storefront, and from 30% to 21% in the sexually transmitted disease clinics (all P < .002 by chi 2 tests for trend). CONCLUSIONS: The reductions in HIV seroprevalence seen among injecting drug users in New York City from 1991 through 1996 indicate a new phase in this large HIV epidemic. Potential explanatory factors include the loss of HIV-seropositive individuals through disability and death and lower rates of risk behavior leading to low HIV incidence.

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Selected References

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