title: Deportation and mental health among migrants who inject drugs along the US-Mexico border.
abstract: This study describes the prevalence and factors of depressive symptoms among a sample of persons who inject drugs (PWID) with a history of deportation from the US in Tijuana, Mexico. In 2014, 132 deported PWID completed a structured questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Short Depression Scale (CESD-10) screening instrument. Eligible participants were ≥18 years old, injected drugs in the past month, spoke English or Spanish, and resided in Tijuana. Multivariate analyses identified factors associated with depressive symptoms. Among deported PWID, 45% reported current symptoms of depression. Deported PWID who were initially detained in the US for a crime-related reason before being deported (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 5.27; 95% CI: 1.79-15.52) and who perceived needing help with their drug use (AOR: 2.15; 95% 1.01-4.61) had higher odds of reporting depressive symptoms. Our findings highlight the need for effective strategies targeting deported migrants who inject drugs to treat mental health and drug abuse in Tijuana. Investing in the mental health of deported PWID may also be a viable HIV prevention strategy.
authors.affiliation: a Alcohol Research Group, University of California , Berkeley , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pinedo
authors.affiliation: b Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine , University of California , San Diego , CA , USA.
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Burgos
authors.affiliation: c School of Social Work, San Diego State University , San Diego , CA , USA.
authors.forename: María Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Zúñiga
authors.affiliation: d Department of Anthropology , San Diego State University , San Diego , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Ramona
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.affiliation: e Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University , San Diego , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Caroline A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Macera
authors.affiliation: b Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine , University of California , San Diego , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Victoria D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Ojeda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000523:psychology*; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Deportation; US–Mexico border; injection drug use; mental health; migration