Correlates of Injection Drug Use Among Rural Appalachian Women

Overview

Journal J Rural Health

Specialty Public Health

Date 2017 Jul 8

PMID 28685884

Citations 24

Authors

Michele Staton

Gabriele Ciciurkaite

Jennifer Havens

Martha Tillson

Carl Leukefeld

Matthew Webster

Carrie Oser

Bridgette Peteet

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Limited research has focused on correlates of injection drug use (IDU) among high-risk subgroups of drug users, particularly women, who may be at increased risk for transmission of infectious diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C. The purpose of this study is to better understand the contextual and health correlates of IDU among women living in rural Appalachia by examining (1) differences between injectors and noninjectors, and (2) the unique correlates of recent IDU and past IDU.

Methods: This study involved random selection, screening, and face-to-face interviews with 400 rural Appalachian women from jails in one state. Analyses included descriptive statistics, multinomial logistic regression, and stepwise regression to identify significant correlates of recent IDU and past IDU compared to never injecting.

Results: Findings indicated that 75.3% of this randomly selected sample reported lifetime injection of drugs. Contextual factors including drug use severity (RRR = 8.66, P < .001), more male sex partners (RRR = 1.01, P < .05), and having injecting partners (RRR = 7.60, P < .001) were robust correlates of recent injection practices.

Conclusions: This study makes an important contribution to understanding factors associated with IDU among rural Appalachian women drug users, which are strongly associated with both relational and health factors. Study findings on the specific factors associated with IDU risk have important implications for tailoring and targeting interventions that should include a focus on the relationship context reducing high-risk injection practices.

Citing Articles

Protective Factors Associated With Lower Likelihood of Injection Drug Use and Experiencing Overdose Among Incarcerated Women.

Staton M, Tillson M, Levi M, Leukefeld C, Dickson M, Oser C Womens Health Issues. 2024; 34(6):636-644.

PMID: 39393957 PMC: 11602352. DOI: 10.1016/j.whi.2024.09.001.

A Prospective Study of Injection Drug Use and Jail Readmission in Two Western North Carolina Counties.

Johnston H, Kopak A N C Med J. 2024; 84(5):329-333.

PMID: 39312781 DOI: 10.18043/001c.83928.

Adaptation of the NIDA Standard for delivery via Facebook with justice-involved women in rural Appalachia.

Studts C, Tillson M, Pike E, Staton M Implement Res Pract. 2023; 2:26334895211014123.

PMID: 37089991 PMC: 9978655. DOI: 10.1177/26334895211014123.

Helping Women Suffering from Drug Addiction: Needs, Barriers, and Challenges.

Motyka M, Al-Imam A, Haligowska A, Michalak M Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022; 19(21).

PMID: 36360917 PMC: 9656705. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114039.

Impaired driving and other risky drug use and sex behaviors: a cross-sectional examination of high-risk rural women incarcerated in jail.

Webster J, Dickson M, Tillson M, Staton M J Addict Dis. 2022; 42(1):45-54.

PMID: 36318830 PMC: 10149564. DOI: 10.1080/10550887.2022.2138701.

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