People and Places: Behavioral Settings and Personal Network Characteristics as Correlates of Needle Sharing

Latkin, Carl A.; Mandell, Wallace; Vlahov, David; Oziemkowska, Maria; Celentano, David D.

doi:10.1097/00042560-199611010-00010

Cited by 136 publications

(91 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…27 Reconfiguration of social networks has been one of the guiding strategies of network-based interventions, which can include selection of peer leaders and delivery of sterile injecting materials and prevention messages. [28][29] …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unsafe Injection and Sexual Risk Behavior among Injecting Drug Users in Georgia

Chikovani

Božičević²,

Goguadze

et al. 2011

J Urban Health

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Injection drug users (IDUs) are at risk for acquiring human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) through parenteral and sexual transmission. In this paper, we describe the prevalence and correlates of unsafe drug injecting and sexual behaviors among IDUs recruited across five cities in Georgia in 2009. IDUs were administered a questionnaire collecting information on demographics, drug use, sexual behaviors, and HIV testing behaviors. Correlates of risky injecting and sexual behaviors were determined using logistic regression. Of 1,127 IDUs, the majority (98.7%) were men, and the median duration of injecting drugs was 7 years. Unsafe injecting behavior at last injection was reported by 51.9% of IDUs, while 16.8% reported both unsafe injecting behavior and not using condoms with last occasional and/or commercial partner. In the multivariate analysis, independent correlates of unsafe injecting behavior at last injection were types of drugs injected [p=0.0096; (for ephedrine, adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=7.38; 95% CI, 1.50-36.26)] and not using condoms at last commercial sex (aOR =2.29, 1.22-4.32). The following variables were significantly associated with unsafe injecting behavior at last injection and not using condoms at last sex with commercial and/or occasional partners in the multivariate analysis: marital status [p = 0.0002; (for divorced, widowed, and separated aOR =2.62, 1.62-4.25; for single aOR =1.61, 1.08-2.39)], being a member of a regular injecting group (aOR=0.62, 0.44-0.88), types of drugs injected in the past month [p =0.0024; (for buprenorphine aOR =0.34, 0.18-0.63)], city of residence (p=0.0083), and not receiving information on HIV (aOR=1.82, 1.07-3.09). Though only ephedrine was injected by a smaller number of IDUs (9.1%), the vast majority of these (81.4%) reported unsafe injecting practices at last injection. High prevalence of unsafe injecting behaviors and diverse and at-risk sexual partnerships highlight the need to implement complex and targeted HIV interventions among IDUs in Georgia.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unsafe Injection and Sexual Risk Behavior among Injecting Drug Users in Georgia

Chikovani

Božičević²,

Goguadze

et al. 2011

J Urban Health

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show abstract

“…Finally, we limited our analysis to norms among drug partners, the group of people who appear to be most influential on another_s drug-using practices. 29,30 Gender Differences in Injection Drug Use The social context surrounding needle sharing is often different between men and women. For instance, women are more likely to share needles with a sex partner who injects whereas men go to and share needles more often at a shooting gallery compared to women.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gender Differences in Social Network Influence among Injection Drug Users: Perceived Norms and Needle Sharing

Davey‐Rothwell

Latkin

2007

J Urban Health

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Whereas substantial research has linked perceived norms and HIV sexual risk behavior, less attention has been given to the relationship between perceived norms and injection drug practices. This study investigated the relationship between needle sharing and perceived norms in a sample of injection drug users. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 684 injectors from the STEP Into Action (STEP) project in Baltimore, Maryland. Logistic regression was used to assess the associations between perceived norms (descriptive and injunctive norms) and needle sharing. Results were stratified by gender. Descriptive norms were significantly related to needle sharing among males (AOR=1.58, 95%CI=1.20-2.40) and females (AOR=1.78; 95%CI=1.24-2.55). Whereas injunctive norms were significantly associated with needle sharing among men (AOR=1.30 95%CI=1.05-1.61), this association was not significant among women (AOR=0.99; 95%CI=0.74-1.31). These findings suggest the utility of peer education interventions that promote norms regarding risk reduction among injection drug users. The data also provide support for gender-specific HIV prevention interventions.

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“…32,78,79 Many subjects in the study of illicit opiate users in Toronto had injected in outdoor or semipublic areas (including streets, cars, and alleyways). 32 Outdoor injection has been shown to be correlated with the reuse of needles not cleaned by bleach, 80 although the utility of bleach cleaning in the prevention of HCV transmission is still unclear.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%