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Needle sharing among southern Thai drug injectors
Author(s) -
Perngmark Pajongsil,
Celentano David D.,
Kawichai Surinda
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
addiction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0965-2140
DOI - 10.1046/j.1360-0443.2003.00446.x
Subject(s) - needle sharing , medicine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , environmental health , drug , transmission (telecommunications) , family medicine , psychiatry , syphilis , electrical engineering , condom , engineering
Aim To examine factors associated with needle sharing among injecting drug users (IDU) in southern Thailand. Design Using a cross‐sectional survey, 272 active IDU were interviewed about their socio‐economic background, needle sharing and drug use patterns at six drug‐treatment clinics in southern Thailand. Findings Ninety‐one per cent of IDU gave a past history of ever sharing injecting equipment: of these, 23% currently injected but did not share and 68% still shared. Only 5% of participants knew that bleaching needles could reduce HIV transmission risks. Recent needle sharing was correlated with number of IDU friends (OR 12.23; CI, 5.24–28.51), engaging in illegal jobs (OR 2.74; CI, 1.13–6.67), being unable to use new needles at all times (OR 2.89; CI, 1.17–7.14) and believing that cleaning contaminated shared needles with at least plain water could reduce HIV transmission (OR 3.32; CI, 1.16–6.68). Conclusions Our data suggest that AIDS prevention efforts should focus on approaches to reduce needle sharing. Needle exchange programs, HIV counseling and testing and bleach distribution may reduce levels of needle‐sharing risks.