Correlates of lending needles/syringes among HIV-seropositive injection drug users.
Among HIV-positive injection drug users (IDUs), we examined the correlates of lending needles/syringes with HIV-negative and unknown status injection partners. HIV-positive IDUs (N=738) from 4 cities in the United States who reported injection drug use with other IDUs in the past 3 months participated in an audio computer-assisted self-administered interview. Eighteen percent of study participants self-reported having lent their needles to HIV-negative or unknown status injection partners. Multivariate analyses showed that 6 variables were significantly associated with this high-risk injecting practice. Older IDUs, high school graduates, and those reporting more supportive peer norms for safer drug use were less likely to lend needles/syringes. Admission to a hospital for drug treatment in the past 6 months, having injected with >1 person in the past 3 months, and having more psychiatric symptoms were all associated with more risk. These findings underscore the need for a continued prevention focus on HIV-positive IDUs that recognizes the combination of drug use, mental health factors, and social factors that might affect this high-risk injecting practice, which could be associated with HIV and hepatitis C transmission.
Metsch
Lisa R
LR
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA. lmetsch@med.miami.edu
Pereyra
Margaret
M
Purcell
David W
DW
Latkin
Carl A
CA
Malow
Robert
R
Gómez
Cynthia A
CA
Latka
Mary H
MH
D000328:Adult; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D016485:Needle Sharing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012944:Social Support; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology