title: A qualitative exploration of gender in the context of injection drug use in two US-Mexico border cities.
abstract: Injection drug use is of increasing concern along the U.S.-Mexico border where Tijuana and Ciudad (Cd.) Juarez are located. We conducted a qualitative study to explore the context of drug use, with a focus on gender differences. In-depth interviews were conducted with 10 male and 10 female injection drug users (IDUs) in Tijuana and 15 male and 8 female IDUs in Cd. Juarez. Topics included types of drugs used, injection settings, access to sterile needles and environmental influences. Interviews were taped, transcribed and translated. Content analysis was conducted to identify themes. Several themes emerged with respect to gender: (a) how drugs were obtained; (b) where drugs were used; (c) relationship dynamics surrounding drug use; and (d) sex in exchange for money or drugs. Men reported buying and injecting in shooting galleries and other locations, whereas women tended to buy and inject drugs with people they knew and trusted. All men reported having shared syringes in shooting galleries, often with strangers. In these two cities, venue-based interventions may be more appropriate for male IDUs, whereas personal network interventions may be more appropriate among female IDUs.
authors.affiliation: Division of International Health and Cross-Cultural Medicine, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, 9500 Gilman Drive, Ash Building, Room 118, Mail stop 0622, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle Firestone
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mantsios
authors.forename: Rebeca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Case
authors.forename: Kimberly C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Brouwer
authors.forename: Maria Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Wendy Davila
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Fraga
authors.forename: Carl A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Latkin
authors.forename: Cari L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Steffanie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Strathdee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012944:Social Support; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States; D014505:Urban Population