title: Abscess and self-treatment among injection drug users at four California syringe exchanges and their surrounding communities.
abstract: This study aimed to identify the prevalence and determinants of soft tissue infections and self-treatment among injection drug users (IDUs) in California. The study interviewed 864 IDUs in California using computer-assisted personal interview (CAPI) from 2003 to 2005. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to examine adjusted associations for recent abscess and abscess self-treatment. In these analyses, Latinos had higher odds than African Americans to self-treat, while IDUs reporting a usual place of health care had lower odds of self-treatment. Findings suggest an expansion of wound care facilities to mitigate the self-treatment of abscesses, with special consideration to Latinos.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA.
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Fink
authors.forename: Suzanne P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Lindsay
authors.forename: Donald J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Slymen
authors.forename: Alex H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Kral
authors.forename: Ricky N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Bluthenthal
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D002140:California; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055030:Drug Users / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018671:Needle-Exchange Programs; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012648:Self Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*