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Self-help groups: a key to HIV risk reduction for high-risk injection drug users?
B Sibthorpe1, D Fleming, J Gould
1National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra.
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes
|June 1, 1994
Summary
Injection drug users (IDUs) attending self-help groups were nearly twice as likely to reduce HIV risks. These findings highlight self-help groups as a key intervention for out-of-treatment populations.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Injection drug use (IDU) remains a significant risk factor for HIV transmission.
- Identifying specific behaviors and populations amenable to HIV risk reduction interventions is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine which variables are associated with reduced HIV injection risk among a cohort of high-risk injection drug users (IDUs).
- To assess the likelihood of behavior change for HIV risk reduction in IDUs.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 317 high-risk IDUs who shared needles in the past 30 days was followed for 6 months.
- Behavioral changes, including reduced injection or syringe sharing, were assessed at baseline and follow-up.
Main Results:
- Of 234 participants followed, 107 (46%) reported reduced or eliminated injection risk.
- Participants attending self-help meetings were almost twice as likely to report reduced risk (OR = 1.92, p = 0.04).
Conclusions:
- Injection drug users participating in self-help groups are amenable to HIV interventions.
- Self-help groups may play a vital role in reducing HIV risk among out-of-treatment IDUs.