Needle sharing behaviour among injection drug users (IDUs) in treatment in Montreal and Toronto, 1988-1989.
Injection drug users (IDUs) entering treatment programs in Montreal and Toronto were recruited for a study of drug using behaviour and risk of HIV infection. Only those who had injected within 6 months of entering their treatment program were eligible for participation. 183 subjects were recruited in Montreal and 167 in Toronto between November, 1988 and October, 1989. Each participant completed a standardized interviewer-administered questionnaire which focussed on, among other things, drug history and needle sharing behaviour. Approximately three-quarters of respondents in both cities reported sharing needles and syringes within the 6-month period prior to their entry into treatment. Our analysis, which focussed on variables associated with needle sharing revealed that having a sexual partner who injected, trouble obtaining sterile needles and syringes and cocaine injection were significantly and independently associated with needle sharing in a logistic regression model which also controlled for city of recruitment.
Coates
R A
RA
Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Rankin
J G
JG
Lamothe
F
F
Arshinoff
R
R
Raboud
J
J
Millson
M E
ME
Halliday
M L
ML
Bruneau
J
J
Soto
J
J
Vincelette
J
J
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016485:Needle Sharing; D009864:Ontario; D011792:Quebec; D012307:Risk Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000534:rehabilitation