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Susan L. Bailey, PhD, School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Illinois at Chicago (MC 923), 1603 W. Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60612, 312-996-7666, slbailey@uic.edu, Steffanie A. Strathdee, PhD, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, Lawrence J. Ouellet, PhD, School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1603 W. Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60612, and Richard S. Garfein, PhD, MPH, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Epidemiology Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, MS E-45, Atlanta, GA 30333.
Objectives: This study examines the prevalence and univariate correlates of injecting with used syringes.
Methods: Subjects were 2806 current injectors 15-30 years old. Variables measured frequency of receptive syringe sharing, injection setting, source of syringes, and reasons for sharing in the past 3 months. Demographics, lifestyle/background factors, and norms/ beliefs were also analyzed.
Results: Mean age was 24 years (s.d.=3.6); 69% were male; 68% were Caucasian; and 41% recently homeless. Receptive syringe sharing (RSS) was common (44%). Significant correlates (Chi-square, p<.01) included being female (48% RSS), homeless (49%), having been thrown out before age 18 years (47%), physically/sexually abused (49%), and trading sex (54%). Significant factors in the injection setting included injecting in cars (53%) or most often with sex partners (59%). Significant norms/beliefs were peers having less than strong disapproval for sharing (54-65%) and believing risk for HCV (49%) and HIV (50%) infection in sharing are less than very likely. Those who obtained most of their needles from sources other than needle exchanges/pharmacies were more likely to share (51%). Among those who shared, the most common reasons were having only one needle (79%), trusting people injected with (49%), and having a clogged needle (39%).
Conclusions: Results suggest four general factors associated with RSS—being disadvantaged, level of trust/intimacy with sharing partners, weaker norms about sharing, and unregulated access to new syringes. The first of these can be used to target interventions, the second two the primary focus of the intervention, and the fourth a focus for public health policy.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: HIV Risk Behavior, Injecting Drug Use
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.