Cooperative Agreement for AIDS Community-Based Outreach/Intervention Research Program, 1992-1998: [United States]

The purpose of the Cooperative Agreement (CA) Research
Program was to monitor risk factors, risk behaviors, and rates of HIV
seroprevalence and seroincidence among out-of-treatment,
multi-ethnic/racial injection drug users and crack cocaine users. The
program evaluated the efficacy of experimental interventions designed
to prevent, eliminate, or reduce HIV risk behaviors and developed new
treatment interventions. All participants received the standard
intervention, which consisted of street-based outreach and HIV
prevention counseling. Those assigned to enhanced interventions
received more counseling sessions, educational videos, social
gatherings, and support group activities. The public-use data file
contains 31,088 respondent records, collected from 21 CA program
facilities in the United States and one facility each in Puerto Rico
and Brazil. Hence, the process data file contains 23 records of
facility information that can be linked to individual
respondents. Respondent interviews include a baseline Risk Behavior
Assessment (completed prior to first intervention) and a Follow-Up
Assessment, conducted either three months or six months after the
baseline survey. Respondent data were augmented with eligibility
information, biological markers of drug use, HIV test results, and
intervention assignment. At baseline and post-intervention, the
surveys measured drug use and drug treatment, sexual activity and sex
for money/drugs, arrests, work/income, HIV/STD/pregnancy status,
perceptions of risk, and risk reduction behaviors. The process
questionnaires were completed by staff or principal investigators at
the 23 site locations. Process data describe the program structure and
process, other intervention projects in the community, needle exchange
programs and pharmacy syringe sales, and local HIV infection
rates. Drugs reported on include alcohol, marijuana/hashish,
crack/cocaine, heroin (including speedball), non-prescription
methadone, other opiates, and amphetamines.