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UNITED STATES: "Distributive Syringe Sharing
Among Young Adult Injection Drug Users in Five US Cities" |
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The sharing of needles and syringes is the
most common way blood-borne pathogens such as HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV)
are transmitted among injection drug users (IDUs). "Distributive syringe
sharing (DSS) (i.e., passing on a used needle/syringe to another IDU) poses
the potential risk of transmitting HIV and viral hepatitis to others," the
current study notes.
The researchers studied the prevalence and correlates of DSS among IDUs
enrolled in a randomized behavioral intervention trial in five cities
designed to reduce the behaviors linked to the risk of HIV and HCV
transmission.
A total of 3,129 IDUs ages 15 to 30 completed the baseline visit. Of these,
1,432 (45.8 percent) reported having engaged in DSS in the three months
preceding baseline. Factors found to be significant correlates of DSS were
the perception that peer norms condone needle sharing, frequent injection,
not accessing most needles via needle exchanges or pharmacies, injecting
most often in shooting galleries and with sex partners, low perceived HIV
risk from shared syringes, increased anxiety, low self-esteem, and engaging
in unprotected sex.
"Restricting to only those IDUs who reported not injecting with previously
used syringes, similar independent correlates of DSS were found. These
findings suggest that interventions to reduce ongoing transmission of
blood-borne infections should focus on altering peer norms among networks of
young IDUs," the authors concluded. |
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Drug and Alcohol
Dependence Vol. 91; Supplement 1: P. S30-S38 (11..07):: Elizabeth T. Golub;
Steffanie A. Strathdee; Susan L. Bailey; Holly Hagan; Mary H. Latka; Sharon
M. Hudson; Richard S. Garfein; and for the DUIT Study Team
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We are providing the above information as a public
service only. Providing synopses of key scientific articles and lay
media reports on HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases
does not constitute endorsement. The above summaries were prepared
without conducting any additional research or investigation into the
facts and statements made in the articles being summarized, and
therefore readers are expressly cautioned against relying on the
validity or invalidity of any statements made in these summaries. This
CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News
Update also includes information from CDC and
other government agencies, such as background on MMWR articles, fact
sheets and announcements. |
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