Clustering of syringe sharing and unprotected sex risk behaviors in male injecting drug users in China.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate, among male injecting drug users (IDU), the relationships between higher risk IDU-related and sex-related behaviors.


OBJECTIVE
To highlight the clustering effects of the 2 forms of risk behaviors.


METHODS
Behavioral surveillance surveys conducted in Sichuan were analyzed (n = 3105).


RESULTS
Of all respondents, 35.7% had injected with others' used syringes in the last 6 months, which was associated with female sex workers (FSW) and nonregular sex partners (NRP) partnership (OR = 1.81 and 1.59 respectively), and having had unprotected sex with FSW, NRP, and regular sex partners (OR = 1.96, 1.57, and 1.38 respectively). Higher drug use frequency was associated with having unprotected sex with FSW (among client of FSW, OR = 1.7) and with NRP (among those with NRP, OR = 1.61). Giving used syringes to others for injection was also associated with unprotected sex with NRP (OR = 1.97).


CONCLUSIONS
Interventions are urgently required to reduce both IDU-related and sex-related risk behaviors among male IDU.
Lau
Joseph T F
JT
Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong. jlau@cuhk.edu.hk
Cheng
Feng
F
Tsui
Hi-Yi
HY
Zhang
Yun
Y
Zhang
Jianxin
J
Wang
Ning
N
Zhang
Linglin
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016485:Needle Sharing; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous