title: Cross-border activities and association with current methamphetamine use among Chinese injection drug users (IDUs) in a China-Myanmar border region.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Methamphetamine has become one of the most widely used illicit substances in the world. We measured the prevalence and identified the correlates of methamphetamine use amongst current injection drug users (IDUs) in a China-Myanmar border region.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey including interviews and serological testing was conducted in 2012. Chinese IDUs who had injected within the past six months and aged ≥ 18 years were recruited using respondent-driven sampling (RDS). Logistic regression indentified factors associated with current methamphetamine use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 370 IDUs recruited, prevalence of lifetime and current methamphetamine use was 84.2% and 75.2% respectively. Amongst 293 current users, 18.1% ever purchased methamphetamine from Myanmar while 8.9% ever used it there during the past 6 months. IDUs who had cross-border activities, including purchasing drugs (AOR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.10, 1.31) and visiting family/friends, doing business or odd jobs in Myanmar (AOR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.24) were more likely to use methamphetamine in the past six months. Other factors independently associated with current methamphetamine use included being younger (aged  ≤ 25 years, AOR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.09, 1.41), being syphilis positive (AOR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.33), having used previously self-used needle/syringe (AOR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.08, 1.34) and recently received prevention services (AOR: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.28).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Methamphetamine has become another major drug of use and poses the serious concern among injecting drug users living in the China/Myanmar border region. The bi-national cooperation is urgently needed to develop targeted effective intervention strategies.
authors.affiliation: Yunnan Institute of Drug Abuse, Kunming, Yunnan, 650228, PR China; Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkla, 90110, Thailand.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkla, 90110, Thailand.
authors.forename: Sawitri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Assanangkornchai
authors.affiliation: HIV/AIDS Asia Regional Program Yunnan Management Office, Kunming, Yunnan, 650228, PR China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Duo
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkla, 90110, Thailand.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McNeil
authors.affiliation: Yunnan Institute of Drug Abuse, Kunming, Yunnan, 650228, PR China.
authors.forename: Jianhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002052:Myanmar / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013587:Syphilis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008694:Methamphetamine
keywords: Border region; Injection drug users; Methamphetamine use