Risk Behaviors by Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interviews among HIV-Seropositive and HIV-Seronegative Injection Drug Users

• Published in: AIDS education and prevention Vol. 14; no. 5; pp. 367 - 378
• Main Authors: Macalino, Grace E., Celentano, David D., Latkin, Carl, Strathdee, Steffanie A., Vlahov, David
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Guilford 01.10.2002; Guilford Press
• Subjects: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome; Adult; Behavior Problems; Bias; Biological and medical sciences; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Computer Assisted Research; Computers; Computers - utilization; Condoms; Condoms - utilization; Data collection; Data Collection - methods; Data Collection - standards; Drug Injection; Drug use; Female; Health risks; HIV; HIV Seronegativity; HIV Seropositivity - immunology; HIV Seropositivity - psychology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Injection; Interviews; Interviews as Topic - methods; Interviews as Topic - standards; Logistic Models; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Medical sciences; Narcotics; Needle Sharing - adverse effects; Needle Sharing - psychology; Prevention; Questionnaires; Risk; Risk Factors; Risk taking; Sexual Behavior; Sexual Behavior - psychology; Social Desirability; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - complications; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires - standards; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Human; Immunopathology; Drug addiction; Seropositivity; Questionnaire; Retroviridae; AIDS; Injection; Risk analysis; Immune deficiency; Lentivirus; Infection; Virus; Prevention; Survey; Viral disease; Seronegativity; Audio equipment; Drug of abuse; Human immunodeficiency virus; Public health; Computer aid; Data gathering
• ISSN: 0899-9546; 1943-2755
• DOI: 10.1521/aeap.14.6.367.24075

Audio computer assisted self-interview (ACASI) has been shown to elicit significantly higher reports of sensitive HIV risk behaviors compared with interviewer-administered questionnaires (IAQ). Injection drug users were randomized to either ACASI (n = 556) or IAQ (n = 586) in order to evaluate reporting differences. A significant interaction was found between mode of administration (ACASI/IAQ) and HIV status. HIV-seropositive respondents on ACASI compared with IAQ were less likely to report condom use (odds ratio [OR] = .42, p < .01) and condom use frequency (OR = .28, p < .002), compared with HIV-seronegative respondents. Based on ACASI results, HIV-seropositive individuals engaged in fewer preventive behaviors than suggested by IAQ. These findings support the validity of ACASI as an important mode of data collection in reducing socially desirable responding, especially among HIV-seropositive subjects.