Harmful microinjecting practices among a cohort of injection drug users in vancouver Canada.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to identify factors associated with harmful microinjecting practices in a longitudinal cohort of IDU.


METHODS
Using data from the Vancouver Injection Drug Users Study (VIDUS) between January 2004 and December 2005, generalized estimating equations (GEE) logistic regression was performed to examine sociodemographic and behavioral factors associated with four harmful microinjecting practices (frequent rushed injecting, frequent syringe borrowing, frequently injecting with a used water capsule, frequently injecting alone).


RESULTS
In total, 620 participants were included in the present analysis. Our study included 251 (40.5%) women and 203 (32.7%) self-identified Aboriginal participants. The median age was 31.9 (interquartile range: 23.4-39.3). GEE analyses found that each harmful microinjecting practice was associated with a unique profile of sociodemographic and behavioral factors.


CONCLUSIONS
We observed high rates of harmful microinjecting practices among IDU. The present study describes the epidemiology of harmful microinjecting practices and points to the need for strategies that target higher risk individuals including the use of peer-driven programs and drug-specific approaches in an effort to promote safer injecting practices.
BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Beth
B
Rachlis
Elisa
E
Lloyd-Smith
Will
W
Small
Diane
D
Tobin
Dave
D
Stone
Kathy
K
Li
Evan
E
Wood
Thomas
T
Kerr
D000328:Adult; D001955:British Columbia; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016485:Needle Sharing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044382:Population Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data