scholarly journals Prevalence and correlates of receptive syringe‐sharing among people who inject drugs in rural Appalachia

Addiction ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Hamilton White ◽  
Allison O'Rourke ◽  
Michael E. Kilkenny ◽  
Kristin E. Schneider ◽  
Brian W. Weir ◽  
...  
2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa J. Messersmith ◽  
Rose Adjei ◽  
Jennifer Beard ◽  
Angela R. Bazzi ◽  
Joel J. Earlywine ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Drug use is a growing concern in Ghana. People who inject drugs (PWID) are highly vulnerable to HIV and other infectious diseases. Ghana’s National Strategic Plan for HIV/AIDS 2016–2020 identifies PWID as a key population, but efforts to address the needs of PWID have lagged behind those targeting sex workers and men who have sex with men. Lack of information about PWID is a critical barrier to implementing effective HIV prevention and treatment. We aimed to learn more about the vulnerability of the PWID population in order to inform much-needed harm reduction interventions. Methods From April to July 2018, we conducted a mixed methods study in Kumasi, Ghana, to identify all major drug using locations, count the numbers of PWID to obtain rough population size estimations, and administer anonymous surveys to 221 PWID regarding drug use and sexual behavior. We also tested for HIV, HCV, and HBV from syringes used by survey participants. Results Key informants identified five major drug using locations and estimated the total PWID population size to be between 600 and 2000. Enumerators counted between 35 and 61 individuals present at each of the five bases. Sharing syringes and reusing discarded syringes are common practices. Over half of survey participants (59%) reported past-month syringe sharing (34% used a used syringe and 52% gave away a used syringe). Individuals with higher injection frequency (≥ 21 times weekly) and who injected with four or more people had higher odds of syringe sharing. Of the survey participants reporting sex in the last month (23%), most reported having one partner, but only 12% used condoms. Nearly all women (11/13) reported exchanging sex for drugs and 6/13 reported exchanging sex for money in the last six months. Fifteen percent of participants (all men) reported paying for sex using drugs or money. Of the used syringes, prevalence estimates were 3% (HIV), 2% (HCV), and 9% (HBV). Conclusions Our findings confirm the urgent need to implement harm reduction interventions targeting PWID and to build a strong and enabling legal and policy environment in Ghana to support these efforts.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 1942-1950 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean T. Allen ◽  
Allison O’Rourke ◽  
Rebecca Hamilton White ◽  
Katherine C. Smith ◽  
Brian Weir ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 2615-2623 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kanna Hayashi ◽  
Lianping Ti ◽  
Jane A. Buxton ◽  
Karyn Kaplan ◽  
Paisan Suwannawong ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Ellen Mackesy-Amiti ◽  
Basmattee Boodram ◽  
Geri Donenberg

Receptive syringe sharing (RSS) among people who inject drugs (PWID) is a risk factor for hepatitis C virus and HIV infections. PWID with borderline personality disorder (BPD) have increased risk of RSS, but it remains unclear what drives this association. This study used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to study characteristics associated with BPD, and RSS among PWID. We recruited PWID, age 18-35, through two Community Outreach Intervention Projects syringe service program sites in Chicago, Illinois, USA. After a baseline interview, participants used a mobile phone app to respond to momentary surveys on mood, substance use, and injection risk behavior for two weeks. For each momentary assessment, ratings on negative mood descriptors were combined to create measures of total negative affect (NA), and NA components of dejection, shame, anger, irritability, and worry. RSS was defined by participant responses indicating that they had used a syringe that someone else had used. We estimated mixed effects logistic models, regressing RSS on baseline affect-related impulsivity, lagged momentary NA, and the interaction term. Out of 163 participants who completed at least two EMA assessments, 152 (93%) reported at least one injection event and had valid pre-injection mood assessments required to be included in the analysis. We found that affect-related impulsivity, combined with worried mood in the hours preceding the injection episode, predicted increased risk of RSS. PWID having difficulties with emotion regulation may be at increased risk of RSS during periods of anxiety or tension.


Addiction ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos D. Rivera Saldana ◽  
Leo Beletsky ◽  
Annick Borquez ◽  
Susan M. Kiene ◽  
Steffanie A. Strathdee ◽  
...  

Salud Mental ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 149-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annick Bórquez ◽  
Daniela Abramovitz ◽  
Javier Cepeda ◽  
Gudelia Rangel ◽  
Patricia González-Zúñiga ◽  
...  

Introduction. Needle and syringe programs (NSP) reduce syringe sharing and HIV transmission among people who inject drugs (PWID). However, their effectiveness relies on sufficient individual and population level coverage. In Tijuana, Mexico, the Global Fund (GF) supported NSP during 10/2011-12/2013, but withdrew funds at the end of 2013 following Mexico’s re-classification as an upper-middle income country. Objective. We tested the hypothesis of higher NSP access and lower receptive syringe sharing among PWID in Tijuana during the GF support period compared to pre-GF initiation and post-GF withdrawal. Method. We used data from an ongoing cohort study of PWID in Tijuana (03/2011-10/2015) to implement a segmented regression analysis investigating changes in the self-reported probability of NSP access, reported difficulty in finding sterile syringes and receptive syringe sharing before GF initiation and after GF discontinuation. Results. We found a large significant increase in the probability of NSP access (+.07) and decrease in receptive syringe sharing (-.23) right after GF initiation, which continued over the GF period. Subsequently, we found a significant decline in NSP access (-.05) and an increase in receptive syringe sharing (+.02) right after post-GF withdrawal, which continued thereafter. Discussion and conclusion. We demonstrated significant temporal changes in NSP access and receptive syringe sharing among PWID in Tijuana after GF initiation and withdrawal consistent with our hypothesis. Coordinated efforts with local authorities are needed to sustain major coverage NSP in settings receiving GF or external aid to guarantee continuity of harm reduction services and prevent reinside in risk behaviors associated with HIV transmission.


2018 ◽  
Vol 109 (2) ◽  
pp. 174-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayden I. Scheim ◽  
Geoff Bardwell ◽  
Beth Rachlis ◽  
Sanjana Mitra ◽  
Thomas Kerr

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