title: Injections for health-related reasons amongst injecting drug users in New Delhi and Imphal, India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In many parts of the world where unsafe injection practices in health settings are common, the prevalence of blood-borne viruses (BBVs) is high amongst injecting drug users (IDUs). If IDUs in these settings are receiving injections for health-related reasons, the possibility of amplification of BBV transmission via medical injections exists. The aim of this study is to describe the nature and extent of injections received for health-related reasons amongst IDUs in two Indian cities, New Delhi and Imphal.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey of 200 IDUs was conducted in late 2004. Trained peer outreach workers asked participants about health problems experienced, consultations with healthcare providers and health-related injections received in the preceding 4 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most participants (99.5%) were male, the average age was 29 years, and the average time since first injection of illicit drugs was 6 years. A total of 133 injections were received for health-related reasons during the preceding 4 weeks by 15% of the participants. The average number of injections was 8.6/participant/year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Injections for health-related reasons were commonplace amongst these IDUs. Therefore, amplification of BBV transmission within communities due to unsafe injections is possible and warrants further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Australian International Health Institute, School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Level 5/207 Bouverie Street, Melbourne, Vic. 3010, Australia. mkermode@unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kermode
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Raju
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Crofts
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007267:Injections / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous