Heroin dependence and bloodborne virus transmission behaviors for HIV infection among newly incarcerated injection drug users in Taiwan.
The purpose of the study was to determine heroin dependence and risky behaviors associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among newly incarcerated injection drug users (IDUs). Three self-administrated questionnaires were collected among 450 newly incarcerated male heroin users during 2005-2007. Inmates were categorized as heroin-dependent if they met three or more of the six ICD-10 criteria. Heroin-dependent inmates had higher scores of bloodborne virus transmission risk than non-dependent IDUs (12.8 ± 16.0 vs. 7.2 ± 11.5, p < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that heroin dependence was a significant moderator of the association between risky injection behaviors and HIV infection. It is crucial to integrate substance treatment with behavioral interventions into harm reduction programs to prevent bloodborne virus transmission among IDUs.
Department of Nursing, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.
Nai-Ying
NY
Ko
Su-Ting
ST
Hsu
Cheng-Hui
CH
Chen
Hsin-Chun
HC
Lee
Wen-Chien
WC
Ko
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D012309:Risk-Taking; D057566:Self Report; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*