The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #67287

Lois A. Jackson, PhD¹, Diane Bailey², Debbie Babineau², Andrea Currie, MEd³, John Fraser, MD⁴, and Ken Johnson, MD⁵. (1) School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University, 6230 South Street, Halifax, NS B3H 3J5, Canada, (902) 494-1341, lois.jackson@dal.ca, (2) Mainline Needle Exchange, 2158 Gottingen Street, Halifax, NS B3K 3B4, Canada, (3) Breakthrough, 6960 Memford Road, Halifax, NS B3L 4P1, Canada, (4) Northend Community Health Centre, 2165 Gottingen Street, Halifax, NS B3K 3B5, Canada, (5) Queen Elizabeth II, 1779 Beech Street, Halifax, NS B3H 4B7, Canada

Objectives: To explore the social contexts within which IDUs in Halifax use injection drug paraphernalia safely or not. Method: Sixty (60) IDUs were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Interviews were conducted by a female recovering addict, and lasted on average 60 minutes. Audiotapes of the interviews were transcribed verbatim, and the ethnograph computer software programme was utilized for data analysis. Data were analyzed according to the principles of grounded theory. Results: Respondents ranged in age from 19-58 years with the majority 30-49. Forty-three (43) of the respondents indicated that they injected daily, and 13 weekly/monthly/yearly (4 unreported). Thirty seven (37) of the respondents were male, and 21 female (2 missing data). An analysis of the data revealed that although there were some contexts within which both men and women shared (eg. when only one needle was available) there were also gender differences in the nature of sharing. For example, one man reported that if he was using with his female partner and there was only one clean needle he would let her use first because the male should take the greatest risk. Likewise, one woman argued that she always insisted on using first if she was with her male partner and there was only one needle available. Conclusions: This research suggests that there is a continued need for HIV prevention among IDUs in Halifax, and that special attention needs to be directed to the ways in which gender – and especially notions of “masculinity” - influence the nature of sharing.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe various social contexts that influence the sharing of drug paraphernalia among IDUS.
• Articulate how gender - especially notions of male masculinity- can influence sharing practices between IDUS.

Keywords: HIV Risk Behavior, Injection Drug Users

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.