HIV risk practices among needle exchange users and nonusers in Chicago.
OBJECTIVE
To assess associations between needle exchange program (NEP) use and drug injection risk practices.


METHODS
Between 1997-2000, injecting drug users (IDUs) in Chicago were recruited from NEPs and an area with no NEP, interviewed about risk practices, and counseled and tested for HIV. The risk practices of "regular NEP users"--those who obtained at least half of their needles from an NEP (n = 558)--were compared with those of IDUs who did not use an NEP (n = 175).


RESULTS
In multivariate analysis, regular NEP users, compared with NEP nonusers, were less likely to receptively share needles (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.30; 95% CI, 0.19-0.46); lend used needles (AOR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.31-0.71); share cookers (AOR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.25-0.61), cottons (AOR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.32-0.72), or water (AOR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.27-0.63); or use a needle for >1 injection (0.15; 95% CI, 0.08-0.27). Among those who shared needles, regular NEP users were significantly more likely to do so for a smaller proportion of injections, with fewer partners and persons socially closer, and to have always bleached used needles before injecting.


CONCLUSIONS
Regular NEP use is associated with less frequent and lower risk HIV injection risk practices.
Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Community Outreach Intervention Projects, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA. ljo@uic.edu
Lawrence
L
Ouellet
Dezheng
D
Huo
Susan L
SL
Bailey
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002641:Chicago; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016485:Needle Sharing; D018671:Needle-Exchange Programs; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012309:Risk-Taking; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology