Sexual risk behaviors and STDs among persons who inject drugs: A national study

Abstract

Opioid use and the rising case reports of STDs represent co-occurring epidemics; research indicates that persons who inject drugs (PWID) may be at increased risk for acquiring STDs. We use the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG, 2011–2015) to examine the prevalence of risky sexual behaviors and STD diagnoses among PWID. We describe demographic characteristics, sexual behaviors, and self-reported STD diagnoses of sexually active women and men, separately, by whether they had ever engaged in injection-related behaviors (age 15–44; N = 9006 women, N = 7210 men). Results indicate that in 2011–15, 1.4% of women and 2.6% of men reported ever engaging in injection-related behaviors. Examining the full logistic regression models indicate that for women, sex with a PWID in the past 12 months (AOR = 5.8, 95% CI: 2.9, 11.7), exchanging money/drugs for sex in the past 12 months (AOR = 3.6, 95% CI: 1.2, 10.9), chlamydia and/or gonorrhea diagnosis in the past 12 months (AOR = 2.6, 95% CI: 1.2, 5.3), ever having a syphilis diagnosis (AOR = 8.5, 95% CI: 3.1, 23.4), and ever having a herpes diagnosis (AOR = 3.3, 95% CI: 1.0, 10.3) were associated with increased odds of engaging in injection-related behaviors. For men, sex with a PWID in the past 12 months (AOR = 10.9, 95% CI: 4.3, 27.7), ever being diagnosed with syphilis (AOR = 5.8, 95% CI: 1.8, 18.0), and ever being diagnosed with herpes (AOR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.0, 7.1) were significantly associated with increased odds of engaging in injection-related behaviors. Future research may examine critical intervention points, including co-occurring factors in both STD acquisition and injection drug use.

Injection Drug use Practices and HIV infection among People Who Inject Drugs in Kigali, Rwanda

“…However, risk of HIV and other bloodborne infections can be further compounded by sexual risk behaviors (e.g., condomless sex). Our results suggest that consistent condom use in this population is low, which is expected given that research suggests riskier sexual practices are associated with substance abuse 22 . Globally, studies indicate that sexual risks are elevated among PWID in sub-Saharan Africa relative to other regions, highlighting the importance of understanding the intersecting impact of sexual and injection drug risks among PWID in Rwanda 17 .…”

Health programmes and services addressing the prevention and management of infectious diseases in persons who inject drugs in Canada: a systematic integrative review protocol

“…This integrative review will consider the programmes and services that are currently in place to address the prevention and management of infectious diseases in PWID within Canada in order to determine, for example, what options may be feasible, where services are located and who they target within a Canadian context, and to identify gaps in knowledge. While there is evidence that sexual behaviours are also linked to infectious diseases and high-risk sexual behaviours are correlated with IVDU/IDU, 31 32 sexual health services will not be included in this review in order to focus on programmes and services addressing IVDU/IDU as the risk factor for infectious diseases.…”

Nghiên Cứu Đặc Điểm Lâm Sàng, Cận Lâm Sàng Và Di Truyền Của Những Bệnh Nhân Vô Sinh Không Có Tinh Trùng Không Do Tắc

“…Điều này chứng tỏ việc sử dụng chất kích thích cũng có liên quan đếnviệc lây nhiễm STDs. Vấn đề này có thể được giải thích do khi sử dụng chất kích thích, đối tượng thường có xu hướng không kiểm soát được hành vi và ý nghĩ của mình dẫn đến việc quyết định quan hệ tình dục thường chóng vánh, không có nhiều suy nghĩ [8].…”

“…nghiên cứu trước đây cho thấy tỉ lệ mất đoạn nhỏ AZF trên NST Y ở nam giới vô sinh dao động từ 5 -15% [3], [8], tỉ lệ này trong nghiên cứu của chúng tôi là 13,8%. Mất đoạn giữa các vùng AZF khác nhau thường xuất hiện với tỉ lệ khác nhau, trong nghiên cứu của Lee J.Y cho thấy mất đoạn AZFc chiếm tỉ lệ cao nhất 60%, tiếp đến là AZFb 16%, AZFa chiếm 5% và mất đoạn phối hợp 14% [8]. Trong nghiên cứu của Lương Thị Lan Anh trên 30 bệnh nhân vô sinh không có tinh trùng [1], tỉ lệ mất đoạn AZFc chiếm 46,7%, mất đoạn AZFb chiếm 16,6%, không phát hiện mất đoạn AZFa, mất đoạn AZFd chiếm tỉ lệ 6,7%.…”