Risk Factors of HIV infection among incarcerated Male Injection Drug Users in Tainan, Taiwan

• Main Authors: Cheng-Hui Chen, 陳政惠
• Other Authors: Nai-Ying Ko
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2005
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/74014834057787869789

碩士 === 國立成功大學 === 公共衛生研究所 === 94 === Objectives: Taiwan experienced an increase of HIV infection among intravenous drug users (IDUs) since 2003. In 2005, 2,414 newly diagnosed HIV infected IDUs were reported, compared with 41 in 2003, 491 in 2004, respectively. Of 2,414 newly diagnosed HIV-infected persons in 2005, 1,589 (65.8%) were incarcerated IDUs. A case-control study was conducted in correctional institutions to investigate risk factors for HIV infection among male IDUs. Methods: People who admitted using injection drugs were selected from a jail and a prison in southern Taiwan. Cases (HIV- infected IDUs) and controls (HIV-uninfected IDUs) were interviewed face-to-face, and information about demographics, drug use, needle and sharing behaviors, incarceration history were collected. Results: A total of 241 participants, including 121 cases and 120 controls, were enrolled in the study. Even 98.3% of IDUs reported that they can obtain new needles and syringes, 48.1% of IDUs reported sharing needles or syringes with others. The barriers to purchasing needles and syringes were the inspections of polices outside of drugstores, not accessible for purchasing needles while carving for drugs or at midnight, pharmacist refused to sell needles and syringes. Cases reported lending used needles or syringes to others (80.8 %) was higher than controls (15.7%). Within the last 12 months, 49.8% reported that they were currently sexually active, 38.6% were within the last months. Cases reported they were currently sexually active (38.1%) was lower than controls (61.3%) within the last 12 months. Only 19.7% of IDUs reported condom use with the last sexual partner. Inconsistent condom use with commercial sex partners and regular sex partners was very common. In logistic regression, after controlling for length of drug injection, significant risk factors of HIV infection among IDUs included using needles used by someone else before incarceration (odds ratio [OR], 8.2;95% confidence interval (95% CI), 3.3-20.2), having a close relative or close friend who is infected with HIV(OR, 5.7 ; 95%CI, 2.5-13.2), sharing containers before injected (OR, 3.3 ; 95% CI, 1.2-8.8 ). Conclusions: In Taiwan, syringes and needles can be purchased without a prescription. However, sharing needles and cleaning needles were still the major risk factors for HIV infection among IDUs. Our study findings highlight the urgency for implementation of harm reduction programs, prevention from needles sharing, and information about correct procedures of cleaning needles for IDUs.