Real and Perceived HIV Risk by Population Density: An Exploratory Examination

Abstract

Little is known about HIV and its primary routes of transmission in less populated areas. The purpose of this exploratory study was to contrast the real and perceived HIV risk among out-of-treatment drug users in a multi-site sample of low-, medium-, and high-population density counties in six states and Washington, D.C. Drug users in medium density areas “perceived” their risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS as lower than those in the high-density areas. A multivariate logistic regression model found that the perceived risk could be predicted primarily as a function of lifetime HIV, lifetime STDs, needle use, having multiple sexual partners, and community population density. Because of different risk patterns and a “false” sense of risk, it is important to expand HIV risk reduction activities to include less populated areas.