Communicating During an HIV Outbreak Among People Who Inject Drugs—West Virginia 2019

Abstract Background Limited research exists on factors associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing among people who inject drugs (PWID) in rural America. The purpose of this research is to identify factors associated with rural PWID in Appalachia having not been tested for HIV in the past year. Methods Cross-sectional data (n = 408) from a 2018 PWID population estimation study in West Virginia were used to examine factors associated with PWID having not been tested for HIV in the past year. Results Most participants identified as male (61%), white, non-Hispanic (84%), and reported having recently injected heroin (81%) and/or crystal methamphetamine (71%). Most (64%) reported having been tested for HIV in the past year, 17% reported having been tested but not in the past year, and 19% reported never having been tested. In multivariable analysis, not having been in a drug treatment program in the past year was associated with PWID not having been tested for HIV in the past year (adjusted prevalence ratio, 1.430; 95% confidence interval, 1.080–1.894). Conclusions Drug treatment programs may be important venues for rural PWID to access HIV testing; however, testing services should be offered at multiple venues as most PWID had not engaged in drug treatment in the past year.

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Factors Associated with Sterile Syringe Acquisition among People Who Inject Drugs in West Virginia

Substance Use & Misuse ◽

10.1080/10826084.2021.1954023 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Sean T. Allen ◽

Alyona Mazhnaya ◽

Allison O’Rourke ◽

Rebecca Hamilton White ◽

Patrick Wedlock ◽

...

Keyword(s):

West Virginia ◽

People Who Inject Drugs ◽

Sterile Syringe ◽

Factors Associated

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Food access among people who inject drugs in West Virginia

Harm Reduction Journal ◽

10.1186/s12954-021-00536-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Saba Rouhani ◽

Sean T. Allen ◽

Sara Whaley ◽

Rebecca Hamilton White ◽

Allison O’Rourke ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drug Use ◽

West Virginia ◽

Disease Transmission ◽

Food Access ◽

People Who Inject Drugs ◽

The United States ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Factors Associated ◽

The Past ◽

Adequate Food

Abstract Background The substance use epidemic in the United States continues to drive high levels of morbidity and mortality, particularly among people who inject drugs (PWID). Poor access to food often co-occurs with drug use and contributes to associated sequelae, such as risks for HIV and diabetes. The objective of this study was to examine factors associated with adequate food access among PWID in a rural Appalachian community. Methods Cross-sectional surveys were used to collect data among PWID aged 18 and older in Cabell County, West Virginia. Frequency of hunger and sociodemographic, structural and drug use characteristics were measured. Adequate food access was defined as reporting ‘never’ going to bed hungry at night in the past six months. Pearson’s χ2 and t-tests and multivariable logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with food access. Results Only 71 individuals (17%) reported never going to bed hungry at night in the past six months. Adjusted odds of having adequate food access were higher among PWID who completed high school (aOR 2.94; P = 0.010) and usually used drugs alone (aOR 1.97; P = 0.025), and lower among PWID who were female (aOR 0.51; P = 0.037), experienced homelessness (aOR 0.23, P < 0.001), were recently arrested (aOR 0.50 P = 0.047), and engaged in receptive sharing of injection equipment (aOR 0.52, P = 0.035). Conclusions We found extremely low food access in a population of PWID in Appalachia who are vulnerable to overdose and infectious disease transmission. Integrated interventions promoting food access are needed to improve the public health and wellbeing of people who inject drugs in Appalachia.

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