Gender differences in HIV risk behaviour of injecting drug users in Edinburgh

A multi-site sample of currently-injecting drug users (IDUs) comprising 344 men and 136 women was recruited in Edinburgh. Sixty-seven per cent of the sample said they had at some time used injecting equipment already used by another person and 25% admitted doing so in the 6 months before interview. Whereas women who injected with used equipment obtained it predominantly from a sexual partner, for men the source was more often a close friend or someone whose HIV status they were unlikely to know. In the 6 months before interview, 40% of men, compared with 20% of women, had more than one heterosexual partner. This difference was associated with a higher proportion of men with steady partners also having casual partners. Women IDUs were more likely to have regular partners who injected (57% vs 26%). Though sharing of injecting equipment has already diminished in Edinburgh, further measures are needed to eliminate it. For injectors here, the risk of infection from unprotected heterosexual intercourse may now be greater than that from sharing injecting equipment, particularly for women. Other methods of encouraging changes in sexual behaviour need to be investigated and successful ones promoted.     

Explanations for sharing injection equipment in injecting drug users and barriers to safer drug use

We examined the explanations given by a sample of 1245 injecting drug users in Sydney, Australia for accepting used injection equipment. Factor analysis of these reasons revealed three dimensions of sharing: not caring when withdrawing or intoxicated, unavailability of equipment, and not seeing it as high risk or ease of injecting. The most common reasons given were difficulty in obtaining sterile equipment (73% of cases), the dangers not seeming so important when in withdrawal (40%) and sharing being something done with friends or lovers (31%). Most common reasons for not sharing were related to health issues (91% citing AIDS and 67% hepatitis). These data suggest that interventions target provision of sterile equipment, and education which highlights risk situations such as intoxication and withdrawal.     

Risk reduction among injecting drug users: changes in the sharing of injecting equipment and in condom use.

In an investigation of risk behaviour among injecting drug users in the North-West of England, information was obtained concerning the sharing of injecting equipment, respondent's sexual partners and the use of condoms. Between six and nine months after the initial contact, 169 respondents (56%) were contacted again. The emphasis in the second phase of the project was on changes, if any, in risk behaviour that had occurred in the intervening period. Significant reductions were found in sharing, mostly in the more indiscriminate use of others' injecting equipment. No reduction was observed in sharing between injecting partners and little in sharing between close friends. The number of sexual partners had decreased and the use of condoms, although it increased among those involved in temporary relationships, remained low. Impediments to further progress in risk reduction are discussed.     

Injecting equipment sharing and perception of HIV and hepatitis risk among injecting drug users in Budapest

In central European states, rates of HIV among injection drug users (IDUs) have been low although Hepatitis C (HCV) infection is widespread. The goal of our study was to assess HIV infection, risk perceptions and injecting equipment sharing among IDUs in Budapest, Hungary. Altogether 150 IDUs were interviewed (121 structured interviews between 1999 and 2000 and 29 ethnographic interviews between 2003 and 2004). The majority of them injected heroin (52% and 79%) and many injected amphetamines (51% and 35%). One person tested positive for HIV. Two thirds (68%) shared injecting equipment (syringes, cookers and filters). Some participants said they shared syringes because they were not carrying them for fear of police harassment and that they reused filters as a backup drug supply. In multivariate analysis, sharing of injecting equipment was associated with higher perceived susceptibility to HIV/AIDS, lower self-efficacy for sterile equipment use, higher motivation to comply with peer pressure to use dirty injecting equipment and with having a criminal record. The high levels of injecting risk-behaviors found in this study are a cause for serious concern. Interventions for HIV-prevention need to address not only sharing syringes but also sharing and reusing of other injecting equipment and drug filters.     

The sharing of injecting equipment among drug users attending prescribing clinics and those using needle-exchanges

Three groups of injecting drug-users were defined in terms of their experience of methadone treatment: treatment for periods longer than 6 months, treatment for shorter periods, and no treatment. Methadone treatment and the use of needle exchanges were related in subsequent analysis to the sharing of injecting equipment. Comparisons between groups were made on other variables believed to be associated with sharing. Significant differences were observed between treatment groups in the recency of sharing and in the use of needle-exchanges. Age and length of drug use were important factors in sharing, which was least prevalent among older respondents in long-term treatment. Regular use of needle-exchanges was associated with the passing on of used equipment to others. Subsequent analysis of regular users suggested respondents in long-term treatment were less likely to pass on their equipment than those in the other two groups.     

Flashblood: blood sharing among female injecting drug users in Tanzania

Aims This study examined the association between the blood‐sharing practice of ‘flashblood’ use and demographic factors, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status and variables associated with risky sex and drug behaviors among female injecting drug users. Flashblood is a syringe‐full of blood passed from someone who has just injected heroin to someone else who injects it in lieu of heroin. Design A cross‐sectional study. Setting Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Participants One hundred and sixty‐nine female injecting drug users (IDUs) were recruited using purposive sampling for hard‐to‐reach populations. Measurements The association between flashblood use, demographic and personal characteristics and risky sex and drug use variables was analyzed by t‐test and χ² test. The association between flashblood use and residential neighborhood was mapped. Findings Flashblood users were more likely to: be married (P = 0.05), have lived in the current housing situation for a shorter time (P < 0.000), have been forced as a child to have sex by a family member (P = 0.007), inject heroin more in the last 30 days (P = 0.005), smoke marijuana at an earlier age (P = 0.04), use contaminated rinse‐water (P < 0.03), pool money for drugs (P < 0.03) and share drugs (P = 0.000). Non‐flashblood users were more likely to live with their parents (P = 0.003). Neighborhood flashblood use was highest near downtown and in the next two adjoining suburbs and lowest in the most distant suburbs. Conclusions These data indicate that more vulnerable women who are heavy users and living in shorter‐term housing are injecting flashblood. The practice of flashblood appears to be spreading from the inner city to the suburbs.     

Life-style factors and social circumstances of syringe sharing in injecting drug users

Measures taken to reduce HIV risk by injecting drug users have been reported in many countries, but a minority of injectors continue to engage in risky practices. In an ongoing cohort study, 207 drug injectors were interviewed and anonymously tested for HIV antibodies in saliva in 1989. Injectors reporting recent syringe sharing were compared with those not recently sharing; injecting events where sharing did and did not take place were examined. Those recently sharing syringes differed significantly from the non-sharers on several factors, including: use of heroin, dihydrocodeine and temazepam; injection of heroin, temazepam and prescribed methadone; accommodation and contact with other injectors; means of financial support and recent involvement in crime; secondary sources of injecting equipment and unsafe disposal; employment of HIV protective strategies; treatment contact with general practitioners; number of sexual partners and injecting status of sexual partners. The two groups were not significantly different in terms of attendance at syringe-exchange schemes and self-reported HIV antibody status. Syringe sharing would appear to be related to social circumstances and life-style factors rather than just individual choices and motivation.     

Needle sharing with known and diagnosed human immunodeficiency virus-infected injecting drug users

The annual number of reported cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among injecting drug users (IDUs) in Sweden has been about 20 for more than 5 y, but in 2001 36 new cases were reported. Risk behaviour for contracting HIV infection was studied in 21 of 24 identified and evaluable IDUs with diagnosed HIV infection in the metropolitan area of Stockholm in 2001 and in 23 of 30 evaluable consecutive controls. HIV status was associated with general needle sharing (p = 0.04) and needle sharing with an HIV-positive individual (p = 0.0001), despite extensive information on possible transmission routes for HIV. These results indicate that efforts for reducing transmission of HIV should focus on HIV-negative and HIV-positive individuals with risk behaviour.     

以社区为基础的静脉吸毒人群共用注射器具行为特征研究

目的 了解凉山彝族自治州某地静脉吸毒人群共用注射器具的行为特征。方法 以社区为基础调查静脉吸毒人群人口学和共用注射器具吸毒行为情况。结果 在静脉吸毒的379人中，曾经共用注射器具的247人(65．2％)；近3个月使用别人用过的注射器具吸毒的166人(43．8％)。本人静脉注射转变到与他人共用注射器具吸毒的平均时间为363．73天，其中87人(35．2％)首次静脉注射吸毒即与他人共用注射器具。彝族吸毒人群从本人静脉吸毒转变到与他人共用注射器具吸毒的时间短，与他人共用注射器具吸毒的次数，以及近3个月使用别人用过的注射器具吸毒的次数，高于其他吸毒人群。低文化水平吸毒人群从本人静脉吸毒转变到与他人共用注射器具吸毒的时间短，与他人共用注射器具吸毒的次数，以及近3个月使用别人用过的注射器具吸毒的次数，高于其他吸毒人群。结论 针对彝族和低文化水平吸毒人群开展干预，以改变共用注射器具静脉吸毒的高危行为。     

Outbreak of Clostridium histolyticum infections in injecting drug users in England and Scotland

Clostridial infections in injecting drug users in the United Kingdom are a relatively new phenomenon that came to light in 2000 when cases of serious illness and deaths due to Clostridium novyi were recorded. In the period December 2003 to April 2004, the Anaerobe Reference Laboratory received twelve referrals of an extremely rare isolate, Clostridium histolyticum, from cases of infection in injecting drug users submitted from nine different hospitals in England and Scotland. Molecular typing of these isolates by two different methods of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and PCR ribotyping revealed they are all indistinguishable, indicating a common source of the infections, most probably a batch of heroin that was recently distributed across the UK.     

Association of higher-risk alcohol consumption with injecting paraphernalia sharing behaviours in intravenous drug users

Background: Alcohol use is common among injecting drug users. The coexistence of alcohol consumption and injecting risk behaviour has the potential to increase harms among intravenous drug users (IDUs). Objective: This study aimed to determine whether the level of alcohol use is a risk factor for injecting paraphernalia sharing behaviours. Methods: A total of 637 treatment-seeking IDUs were assessed for injecting paraphernalia sharing behaviours and drinking risk level as defined by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Multivariate analyses were performed to identify alcohol risk factors associated with injecting paraphernalia sharing behaviours. Results: After adjusting for the effects of ethnicity, employment and drug used, the odds ratio of higher risk drinking for injecting paraphernalia sharing behaviours was 1.92 (95% CI 1.31–2.83). Conclusion: Higher-risk drinking in IDUs is associated with higher rates of injecting paraphernalia sharing behaviours. It is important to take alcohol use into account when evaluating these patients for treatment and designing intervention strategies.     

广东省静脉吸毒人员共用针具影响因素的Logistic回归分析

目的探讨广东省静脉吸毒人员共用针具的影响因素,以及针具交换项目对预防吸毒人员共用针具的效果。方法采用社区干预研究的方法,选择各方面因素比较类似的两个镇,一个作为干预社区,一个为对照社区。干预区采用针具交换干预措施,对照区不采取任何干预措施,为期10个月。于干预前后分别采用滚雪球的方式抽取注射吸毒者进行断面调查,以评估共用针具的影响因素。影响因素的确定采用Logistic单因素分析,对有显著意义的变量进行多因素Logistic逐步回归分析。结果干预前后分别调查了428和429名静脉吸毒者。干预后干预组和对照组最近30天内共用针具率分别为20.4%和35.3%,差异有显著性（χ^2=11.83,P=0.001）。多因素Logistic逐步回归分析结果显示：知晓艾滋病知识（OR=0.62,95%CI：0.45～0.85）、20～30岁年龄组（OR=1.41,95%CI：1.04～1.91）、使用多种毒品（OR=2.21,95%CI：1.53～3.19）、注射吸毒的年限（OR=2.38,95%CI：1.43～3.99）、重复使用注射器（OR=2.94,95%CI：2.06～4.19）、一次买4支针以上（OR=0.53,95%CI：0.33～0.86）、买针不方便（OR=2.08,95%CI：1.38～3.12）及是否看过艾滋病宣传折页或宣传画（OR=0.59,95%CI：0.42～0.83）,是影响吸毒者共用针具的主要原因。结论针具交换项目有效地降低了静脉吸毒人员共用针具率,知晓艾滋病知识、针具交换项目的宣传及针具的可及性,是针具共用的预防因素;而青年人群、使用多种毒品及注射吸毒时间较长等,是共用针具的危险因素。因此今后的针具交换项目应该针对这些危险因素才能达到控制艾滋病在静脉吸毒人群中的传播。     

Measuring injecting risk behaviour in the second decade of harm reduction: a survey of injecting drug users in England

Aims. To measure risk behaviour among injecting drug users (IDUs) using the Injecting Risk Questionnaire (IRQ). Methods. Data were analysed from the first multi-site survey of injecting risk behaviour among IDUs not in contact with drug services in England. A total of 1214 IDUs were recruited from community settings in seven sites. Findings. Fifty-two per cent reported sharing injecting equipment in the previous 4 weeks in response to a single question on sharing. This rose to 78% when asked more detailed and multiple questions on injecting risk practices. Levels of injecting risk behaviour did not differ substantially by gender, age, length of injecting career, main drug of injection, previous treatment contact or geographical location. However, sharing partners were restricted to a median of two others. Conclusion. These data raise questions concerning the extent to which levels of injecting risk behaviour have increased over recent years, or the extent to which previous monitoring systems underestimated levels of risk. None the less, the data confirm that the promotion of safer injecting continues to be an important public health issue with regard to reducing blood-borne infections.     

Geographical injecting locations among injecting drug users in Sydney, Australia

Aims. To document the geographical injection locations of IDU, and the factors and harms associated with injecting in public places. Design. Cross-sectional survey. Setting. Sydney, Australia. Participants. Two hundred injecting drug users. Findings. Nearly all subjects (96%) had injected in a public place, and 89% had done so in the preceding 6 months. Large proportions had injected in all locations studied, including cars (90%), public toilets (81%), the street (80%) and trains (55%). Injecting in public places also occurred frequently, with 53% of subjects having injected often in at least one public location during the preceding 6 months. Twenty-seven per cent of subjects had injected often in the street over the preceding 6 months, 22% had injected often in cars and 17% had injected often in public toilets. Frequent injectors in public places were more likely to be male, and to have overdosed in the preceding 6 months, injected significantly more drug classes in the preceding 6 months, injected in more bodily injecting sites in the preceding 6 months and had more current injection-related problems than other IDU. Conclusions. Injecting in public places was practised by the overwhelming majority of the sample, and a pattern of increased harm was associated with frequent public injecting. In attempting to quantify the harm associated with injecting, and to reduce such harm, the locations injections take place in are of major importance.