Background: Many women in Russia rely on abortion as a primary birth control method. Although refusal to use\r\ncontraceptives, including condoms, may undermine public health efforts to decrease HIV sexual risk behaviors, few\r\nstudies have investigated the risk factors associated with abortion among women at high risk for HIV. This study\r\nsought to identify the correlates of abortions and of lack of condom use among high risk STD clinic patients in St\r\nPetersburg Russia.\r\nMethods: Cross-sectional analysis of data collected between 2009 and 2010 from women who had casual or\r\nmultiple sexual partners in the previous three months was analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression assessed the\r\nindependent correlates of abortion(s) and no condom use in the prior three months. Independent variables\r\nincluded socio-demographics, at risk drinking per alcohol use disorder identification test (AUDIT-C) criteria, having\r\nsex after drinking alcohol, having a sexual partner who injects illicit drugs, and parity.\r\nResults: Of 87 participants, 45% had an abortion in their lifetime and 26% did not use condoms in the prior three\r\nmonths. Abortion was independently associated with low income (OR, 3.33, 95%CI, 1.13-9.78) and at risk drinking\r\n(OR, 3.52, 95%CI, 1.24-10.05). Lack of condom use was independently associated with being more likely to have sex\r\nafter drinking (OR, 3.37, 95%CI, 1.10-10.28) and parity (OR, 3.69, 95%CI, 1.25-10.89).\r\nConclusions: Programs to increase contraceptive use including condom use among women at high risk for STD/\r\nHIV in Russia are needed. Programs to reduce sexual HIV risk and abortion rates must address alcohol misuse and\r\ntarget women with limited income.
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