Risk Behaviour Determinants Among People Who Inject Drugs in Stockholm, Sweden over a 10-year Period, from 2002 to 2012

Overview

Journal Harm Reduct J

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialties Pharmacology
Psychiatry

Date 2017 Aug 18

PMID 28814336

Citations 9

Authors

Niklas Karlsson

Michele Santacatterina

Kerstin Kall

Maria Hagerstrand

Susanne Wallin

Torsten Berglund

Anna Mia Ekstrom

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: People who inject drugs (PWID) frequently engage in injection risk behaviours exposing them to blood-borne infections. Understanding the underlying causes that drive various types and levels of risk behaviours is important to better target preventive interventions.

Methods: A total of 2150 PWID in Swedish remand prisons were interviewed between 2002 and 2012. Questions on socio-demographic and drug-related variables were asked in relation to the following outcomes: Having shared injection drug solution and having lent out or having received already used drug injection equipment within a 12 month recall period.

Results: Women shared solutions more than men (odds ratio (OR) 1.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03; 2.21). Those who had begun to inject drugs before age 17 had a higher risk (OR 1.43, 95% CI 0.99; 2.08) of having received used equipment compared to 17-19 year olds. Amphetamine-injectors shared solutions more than those injecting heroin (OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.64; 3.62). A housing contract lowered the risk of unsafe injection by 37-59% compared to being homeless.

Conclusions: Women, early drug debut, amphetamine users and homeless people had a significantly higher level of injection risk behaviour and need special attention and tailored prevention to successfully combat hepatitis C and HIV transmission among PWID.

Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier, NCT02234167.

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