Sharing drug injection paraphernalia is the major HIV and hepatitis risk behavior among injection drug users (IDUs). Although many IDUs are aware of their health risks in sharing syringe, cooker, and water with other IDUs, whether they share is determined by various factors at both micro and macro levels. Understanding the factors that shape IDUs’ risk behavior is critical for effective HIV and hepatitis prevention and intervention. Based on the epidemiological survey data from the Syringe Access, Use, and Discard project, our presentation will focus on the role of peer attitudes in IDUs’ injection-related HIV risk behavior. Our study sample consists of 600 IDUs from eight neighborhoods in each of the three northeastern cities – Hartford, Springfield, and New Haven. The initial data analysis indicated that the prevalence of injection paraphernalia sharing varied by neighborhoods in each city. Subsequent analysis found that compared to the IDUs who did not share injection paraphernalia in the past 30 days, the IDUs who did share reported more accepting attitudes of their risk behavior from other injection drug users in their neighborhoods. The predictive role of peer attitudes on injection paraphernalia sharing was further explored in a series of logistic regressions controlling for several demographic variables, study site, and the importance of peer attitudes. In all the analyses, the peer attitude variables are significant predictors of IDUs’ specific risk behavior. The findings will be presented and implications of the findings in terms of HIV and hepatitis prevention and intervention among IDUs will be discussed.
Learning Objectives: to disseminate the findings about the impact of peer attitudes on injection drug users' HIV and hepatits risk behavior and discuss the implications of the findings in terms of HIV and hepatitis prevention and intervention.
Keywords: HIV Risk Behavior, Injection Drug Users
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.