title: Police Victimization Among Persons Who Inject Drugs Along the U.S.-Mexico Border.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Problematic policing practices are an important driver of HIV infection among persons who inject drugs (PWID) in the U.S.-Mexico border region. This study identifies factors associated with recent (i.e., past 6 months) police victimization (e.g., extortion, physical and sexual violence) in the border city of Tijuana, Mexico.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2011 to 2013, 733 PWID (62% male) were recruited in Tijuana and completed a structured questionnaire. Eligible participants were age 18 years or older, injected illicit drugs within the past month, and spoke Spanish or English. Multivariable logistic regression analyses identified correlates of recent experiences of police victimization (e.g., bribes, unlawful confiscation, physical and sexual violence).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 56% of PWID reported a recent police victimization experience in Tijuana. In multivariable logistic regression analyses, factors independently associated with recent police victimization included recent injection of methamphetamine (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.62; 95% CI [1.18, 2.21]) and recently received injection assistance by a "hit doctor" (AOR = 1.56; 95% CI [1.03, 2.36]). Increased years lived in Tijuana (AOR = 0.98 per year; 95% CI [0.97, 0.99]) and initiating drug use at a later age (AOR = 0.96 per year; 95% CI [0.92, 0.99]) were inversely associated with recent police victimization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physical drugusing markers may increase PWID susceptibility to police targeting and contribute to experiences of victimization. Interventions aimed at reducing police victimization events in the U.S.-Mexico border region should consider PWID's drug-using behaviors. Reducing problematic policing practices may be a crucial public health strategy to reduce HIV risk among PWID in this region.
authors.affiliation: Alcohol Research Group, University of California, Berkeley, California.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pinedo
authors.affiliation: Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, California.
authors.forename: Jose Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Burgos
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, San Diego State University, San Diego, California.
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Zuniga
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California.
authors.forename: Ramona
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California.
authors.forename: Caroline A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Macera
authors.affiliation: Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, California.
authors.forename: Victoria D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Ojeda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016495:Police / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011634:Public Health; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States