[What do intravenous drug users think about hepatitis?].
BACKGROUND
Intravenous drug users have a high frequency of infectious diseases related to their needle usage, and a higher risk of death. The purpose of this study was to illustrate how intravenous drug users see their health, diseases, and related risks. This article focuses on results related to hepatitis.


METHODS
Seven informants were recruited from a low-threshold civic health centre. The sole criterion for joining the study was previous or current intravenous drug use. Semi-structured interviews were recorded, and the data edited and analysed with a qualitative approach.


CONCLUSIONS
The informants had experience with and were generally well informed about hepatitis, though some of their perceptions were in disagreement with existing medical knowledge. Self-treatment with intravenous hydrogen peroxide was described as a cure for hepatitis. Despite their accurate knowledge about the risks of infection, the informants still described various methods of sharing their needles and syringes. Their reasons for sharing could be limited access to clean equipment, and an inability to cope. Knowledge alone is inadequate in order to reduce risk behaviour, and a variety of methods, such as access to clean drug equipment, should remain the focus of preventive efforts.
Grimnes
Guri
G
Sosialmedisinsk senter, Søndre Tollbodgate 9, 9008 Tromsø. gurigrimnes@gmail.com
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D016485:Needle Sharing / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires