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Lifetime needle sharing: a predictive analysis
P H Kleinman1, R B Millman, H Robinson
1Cornell University Medical College (CUMC), Dept. Public Health, New York, NY 10021.
Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
|September 1, 1994
Summary
Understanding predictors of needle sharing is key for effective AIDS prevention. Criminal involvement, psychiatric issues, and age were identified as significant factors associated with needle sharing among patients in methadone programs.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Addiction Medicine
- Psychology
Background:
- Needle sharing among intravenous drug users is a significant risk factor for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) transmission.
- Effective prevention strategies require a deep understanding of the psychosocial factors influencing needle-sharing behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify predictors of needle sharing within a population of patients undergoing methadone treatment.
- To inform the development of targeted AIDS prevention interventions.
Main Methods:
- Data were collected from 416 patients in two New York City methadone programs in 1990.
- Psychosocial predictors were assessed and reduced to seven factors via factor analysis.
- Regression analysis was used to examine associations between predictors and needle sharing.
Main Results:
- Bivariate analyses indicated criminal involvement, antisocial characteristics, social integration, and age were related to needle sharing.
- Regression analysis revealed criminal involvement, severity of psychiatric problems, and age were positively associated with needle sharing.
Conclusions:
- Criminal involvement, psychiatric severity, and age are key predictors of needle sharing in this population.
- Findings have implications for tailoring treatment and prevention programs for intravenous drug users to reduce HIV transmission risk.