Substance use, coping, and safer sex practices among adolescents with hemophilia and human immunodeficiency virus

Purpose: To examine the use of alcohol and other drugs (AOD) to cope with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the use of AOD before or during sex by 306 adolescent males with HIV and hemophilia, and its association with safer sex practices. Methods: A survey instrument was administered to adolescents at 11 sites of the Hemophilia Behavioral Intervention Evaluative Project. Survey questions focused on knowledge of sexual activity, safer sex practices, AOD use, attitudinal and behavioral influences of parents, peers and sex partners, communication patterns, and perceived facilitators and barriers to practicing safer sex. Results: A total of 68% of all respondents reported using condoms every time they had heterosexual sex. Respondents who did not use AOD to cope were more likely than AOD copers to report that they disclose their HIV status to all sex partners, talk to all of their sex partners about safer sex, find the use of condoms more enjoyable, and have sex partners who approved of their use of condoms. Condom use was not related to the use of AOD to cope or the use of AOD with the most recent female sex partner. Conclusions: The use of AOD to cope with HIV and its use before or during sex was negatively associated with certain safer sex attitudes and practices. AOD use may help facilitate HIV transmission among adolescents with HIV and/or hemophilia.