title: Injection risk behaviors among rural drug users: implications for HIV prevention.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine injection drug use (IDU) among a cohort of felony probationers from rural Appalachian Kentucky.
  
  
  METHODS
  An interviewer-administered questionnaire given to 800 rural felony probationers ascertained data regarding demographics, drug use, criminal behavior, psychological distress, and HIV-risk behaviors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample was primarily white (95.1%) and male (66.5%) and the median age was 32.3 years (interquartile range: 25.2, 40.5). There were no cases of HIV in the sample. Of the 800 rural probationers, 179 (22.4%) reported lifetime IDU. Receptive syringe sharing (RSS) and distributive syringe sharing (DSS) were reported by 34.5% and 97.1% of the IDUs, respectively. Independent correlates of risky injection behaviors included cocaine injection (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 14.9, 95% confidence interval (CI): 8.0, 27.7) and prescription opioid injection (AOR: 14.7, 95% CI: 7.7, 28.1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although HIV was not prevalent, data suggest that the rural felony probationers in this sample were engaging in risky injection practices that could facilitate transmission of HIV. This is especially problematic since those involved in the criminal justice system may be more likely to be exposed to HIV. Therefore, prevention aimed at reducing HIV-risk behaviors among rural, criminally involved individuals is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Science, Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA. jennifer.havens@uky.edu
authors.forename: Jennifer R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Havens
authors.forename: Carrie B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Oser
authors.forename: Carl G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Leukefeld
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007629:Kentucky / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D016485:Needle Sharing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult