title: Gender differences in injection risk behaviors at the first injection episode.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine gender differences in drug injection equipment sharing at injecting initiation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Young injecting drug users (IDUs) in New York City February 1999-2003 were surveyed about injection risk behaviors and circumstances at initiation. Analyses were gender-stratified and excluded participants who initiated alone. Multiple logistic regression estimated adjusted odds ratios.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants (n=249) were 66% male and 82% White. Mean initiation age was 19.2; mean years since initiating was 3.0. Women were significantly more likely to cite social network influence as a reason for initiating, to have male and sex partner initiators, and to share injecting equipment than men. Among women, sharing any injection equipment was associated with initiation by a sex partner and having > or =2 people present. Among men, being injected by someone else predicted sharing any injection equipment, while using a legally obtained syringe was protective.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Social persuasion stemming from sexual and/or social relationships with IDUs may increase women's risk of sharing injection equipment at initiation, and consequently, their early parenteral risk of acquiring blood-borne infections. Interventions should focus on likely initiates, especially women in injecting-discordant sex partnerships, and IDUs (potential initiators).
authors.affiliation: Institute for International Research on Youth at Risk, National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., New York City, NY 11215, USA. vmf16@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Frajzyngier
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Neaigus
authors.forename: V Anna
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Gyarmathy
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Samuel R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Friedman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016485:Needle Sharing / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009519:New York City; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012737:Sex Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D012932:Social Facilitation; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*