| Summary: | 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.
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