OBJECTIVES: To examine predictors of change in injection equipment sharing behavior over time among IDUs in NY and PR. METHODS: Baseline (T1) and 6-month follow-up (T2) data were collected from 238 Puerto Rican IDUs recruited in NY and 197 in PR. Data were collected on receptive sharing of syringes and other injection equipment (RS), "borrowing" and distributive sharing (DS), "lending". Four groups were formed: (1) no sharing at T1 or T2, (2) sharing at T1, not T2, (3) sharing at T2, not T1, (4) sharing at T1 and T2. Predictors tested (using ANOVA and chi-square tests): NEP use, injection risk norms, pooling money to buy drugs. RESULTS: While IDUs in PR reported higher levels of sharing at both times, more stopped than in NY (e.g., for RS, 26% vs 18%). NEP was predictive of DS changes in PR; more Group 3 members (63%) than Group 2 members (40%) reported NEP use (p<.05). In PR, Group 4 members had friends with "riskier" norms. Pooling money to buy drugs was significantly related to changes in sharing in NY and PR (e.g., in NY, for RS, 20% of Groups 1 and 2 reported pooling, compared with 67% of Groups 3 and 4 (p<.001). CONCLUSIONS: The finding that NEP was related to greater DS in PR may be related to the scarcity of needles in PR. Expansion of NEPs in PR is needed. The importance of norms and pooling money to buy drugs indicate the need for instituting network and other social interventions.
Learning Objectives: 1. Recognize the range of injection-related risk behaviors. 2. Describe the predictors of changes in injection equipment sharing behaviors. 3. Articulate a range of interventions which can impact risk reduction.
Keywords: HIV Risk Behavior, Injection Drug Users
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.