Document Detail


Prevalence and predictors of injecting-related injury and disease among clients of Australia's needle and syringe programs.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  18290911     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: To identify lifetime prevalence and predictors of self-reported injecting-related injuries and diseases (IRID) and/or injecting-related problems (IRP) among a national cross-sectional sample of injecting drug users. METHODS: 1,961 clients of 45 needle and syringe programs (NSPs) who participated in the 2006 Australian NSP Survey self-completed an item regarding lifetime experience of eight separate IRIDs and IRPs. RESULTS: Sixty-nine per cent of participants reported a history of IRID/IRP, with a mean of 1.9 injuries/problems (range 0-8). Lifetime prevalence of specific injuries/problems ranged from problems finding a vein (43%) to endocarditis (4%). Factors independently associated with IRID/IRP included bisexual identity; daily or more frequent injecting; injection of pharmaceutical preparations; female gender; longer injecting history; and hepatitis C antibody-positive serostatus. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with existing literature, results suggest that vascular injury and localised infections are common among IDUs; and that treatment-seeking is often delayed until serious complications arise. IMPLICATIONS: Findings support the imperative for co-ordinated and timely treatment and prevention activities to reduce the severity and burden of these prevalent injecting outcomes.
Authors:
Libby Topp; Jenny Iversen; Andrew Conroy; Allison M Salmon; Lisa Maher;
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Australian and New Zealand journal of public health     Volume:  32     ISSN:  1326-0200     ISO Abbreviation:  Aust N Z J Public Health     Publication Date:  2008 Feb 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2008-02-22     Completed Date:  2008-04-30     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9611095     Medline TA:  Aust N Z J Public Health     Country:  Australia    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  34-7     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Viral Hepatitis Epidemiology and Prevention Program, National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Darlinghurst, New South Wales. LTopp@nchecr.unsw.edu.au
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Australia
Blood Vessels / injuries*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Health Surveys
Humans
Infection / etiology*
Injections / adverse effects*
Male
Middle Aged
Needle-Exchange Programs*
Prevalence
Risk Factors
Severity of Illness Index
Skin Diseases / etiology*
Street Drugs*
Substance-Related Disorders / complications*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Street Drugs

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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