Correlates of sharing injection equipment among male injecting drug users in Kathmandu, Nepal

Poudel, Krishna C.; Poudel-Tandukar, Kalpana; Yasuoka, Junko; Joshi, Anand B.; Jimba, Masamine

doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2010.03.006

« Previous Next »International Journal of Drug Policy
Volume 21, Issue 6 , Pages 507-510, November 2010

Correlates of sharing injection equipment among male injecting drug users in Kathmandu, Nepal

Krishna C. Poudel
- Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +81 3 5841 3698; fax: +81 3 5841 3422.
Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar
- Department of Epidemiology and International Health, Research Institute, International Medical Center of Japan, Japan
Junko Yasuoka
- Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
Anand B. Joshi
- Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
Masamine Jimba
- Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan

Received 17 August 2009; received in revised form 14 January 2010; accepted 16 March 2010. published online 23 April 2010.

Abstract

Background

HIV prevalence is high and risky injection practices occur frequently among injecting drug users (IDUs) in Nepal. We explored the correlates of sharing injection equipment (having injected with a needle or syringe previously used by another) among male IDUs in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Methods

From August to September 2007, we anonymously interviewed 296 male IDUs in Kathmandu, Nepal, using a structured questionnaire. We performed bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis and identified variables associated with sharing injection equipment.

Results

Over half (n=152) of the participants reported injecting drugs with a needle or syringe previously used by another in the past year. Of these, 70% reported engaging in sharing injection equipment with multiple persons. The unavailability of new needles and drinking alcohol were independently associated with sharing injection equipment among the study participants.

Conclusions

IDUs who drank alcohol or who could not obtain new needles when needed were more likely to share injection equipment. Our results suggest that reducing alcohol use and increasing the availability of new needles and syringes might improve safer injection practices among male IDUs in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Keywords: Injecting drug use, Sharing injection equipment, HIV prevention, Nepal