Patterns of drug use and HIV-related risk behaviors among incarcerated people in a prison in Iran.
Previous research indicates that prisoners in Iran are at risk of drug-related harm, including acquisition of blood-borne infections. In response, several prevention interventions have been introduced into prisons in Iran, such as methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). MMT is now provided to opioid-dependent prisoners in 142 of the 230 prisons and correctional settings in Iran. A baseline behavioral survey was conducted in Karaj Central prison which mainly holds prisoners with drug-related charges. Overall, 203 male prisoners from randomly selected rooms in two prison blocks were interviewed using a structured questionnaire in 2007, just before the introduction of MMT program in this prison. Among participants, 7% reported never having used illicit drugs in their lifetime, but 51% had used non-injecting illicit drugs, and as high as 42% reported having injected an illicit drug. Up to 79% (160/203) of all participants reported using drugs, and about 6% (12/203) reported drug injecting during their current incarceration term. Same-gender sexual practice during current incarceration term was reported by 2.5% (5/203) of all male prisoners. Comparison between injecting and non-injecting drug-using prisoners indicated that drug injectors had higher rates of previous incarcerations, commenced drug use at a younger age, were more likely to have used illicit drugs in the previous week, were more likely to have been treated by a physician for drug addiction, had higher rates of registration for methadone treatment inside prison, and were more likely to have been tested for HIV infection. These study findings provide a behavioral profile of prisoners in regard to drug-related harm and can be considered in any plan to introduce or improve provision of MMT in prisons in Iran or other countries with similar features.
Zamani
Saman
S
Department of Global Health and Socio-epidemiology, Kyoto University School of Public Health, Kyoto, Japan. szamani@sph.mbox.media.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Farnia
Marziyeh
M
Torknejad
Alireza
A
Alaei
Behrouz Abbasi
BA
Gholizadeh
Mehran
M
Kasraee
Farzad
F
Ono-Kihara
Masako
M
Oba
Koji
K
Kihara
Masahiro
M
D000328:Adult; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009294:Narcotics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation
D009294:Narcotics; D008691:Methadone
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