title: A meta-analysis of needle sharing, lending, and borrowing behaviors of needle exchange program attenders.
abstract: This study used meta-analysis to examine cumulatively needle exchange program (NEP) change/comparison data from 47 studies between 1988 and 2001, based on data collected between 1986 and 1997. The research question posed was: Is NEP attendance associated with reductions in risky needle-related behaviors? Results indicated that needle sharing (r = -.189), variations on the outcome measure of needle sharing (r = -.161), and needle lending/borrowing (r = -.194) consistently declined among NEP attenders, suggesting the NEPs are effective in reducing risky needle-related behaviors of IDUs. The meta-analytic results lend support to the harm-reduction philosophy often used as the rationale for the establishment and maintenance of NEPs.
authors.affiliation: Center for AIDS Intervention Research, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 2071 North Summit Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53202, USA. kksobiec@mcw.edu
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ksobiech
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D016485:Needle Sharing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018671:Needle-Exchange Programs / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013223:Statistics as Topic / Q000379:methods; D014481:United States