Risky behaviors for HIV infection among male incarcerated injection drug users in Taiwan: a case-control study

Abstract Taiwan has experiencing an outbreak of HIV infection among injection drug users (IDUs) since 2003. A case-control study was conducted to determine the behavioral characteristics associated with HIV infection among IDUs. The study identified 120 inmates with HIV infection and 121 matched HIV-negative controls from prisons. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews. The study found 48.1% of IDUs shared needles, less than a half of IDUs reported sexual intercourse before incarceration and only 19.7% used condoms. The multivariate logistic regression analysis, adjusted for years of heroin injection, found that HIV infection was independently associated with the use of a used needle or syringe at the latest injection (odds ratio [OR], 8.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.3–20.2, p<0.001), having HIV-infected relatives or friends (OR, 5.7; 95%CI, 2.5–13.2, p<0.001) and sharing containers with others (OR, 3.3; 95%CI, 1.2–8.8, p=0.02). Our findings highlight the importance of needle exchange programs along with HIV-prevention education.

[1]  Yi‐Ming Arthur Chen,et al.  HIV-1 in Taiwan , 2007, The Lancet.

[2]  N. Tuan,et al.  Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection patterns and risk behaviours in different population groups and provinces in Viet Nam. , 2007, Bulletin of the World Health Organization.

[3]  Hsin-Yun Sun,et al.  Molecular epidemiology of HIV type 1 subtypes in Taiwan: outbreak of HIV type 1 CRF07_BC infection in intravenous drug users. , 2006, AIDS research and human retroviruses.

[4]  D. D. Des Jarlais,et al.  Needle exchange use, sexual risk behaviour, and the prevalence of HIV, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus infections among Bulgarian injection drug users , 2006, International journal of STD & AIDS.

[5]  Linqi Zhang,et al.  An Epidemic of HIV Type I CRF07_BC Infection Among Injection Drug Users in Taiwan , 2006, Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes.

[6]  Wei J. Chen,et al.  Heroin use among youths incarcerated for illicit drug use: psychosocial environment, substance use history, psychiatric comorbidity, and route of administration. , 2006, The American journal on addictions.

[7]  R. Baggaley,et al.  Risk of HIV-1 transmission for parenteral exposure and blood transfusion: a systematic review and meta-analysis , 2006, AIDS.

[8]  Min Zhao,et al.  HIV sexual risk behaviors among injection drug users in Shanghai. , 2006, Drug and alcohol dependence.

[9]  R. Schottenfeld,et al.  Heroin dependence and HIV infection in Malaysia. , 2006, Drug and alcohol dependence.

[10]  C. del Rio,et al.  Risk behaviors and HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C seroprevalence among injection drug users in Georgia. , 2006, Drug and alcohol dependence.

[11]  Y. Lan,et al.  HIV-1 CRF07_BC Infections, Injecting Drug Users, Taiwan , 2006, Emerging infectious diseases.

[12]  T. Lee.  Prevalence and Related Factors of Needle-Sharing Behavior among Female Prisoners , 2005 .

[13]  Matthew Hickman,et al.  Global overview of injecting drug use and HIV infection among injecting drug users , 2004, AIDS.

[14]  D. Celentano,et al.  Sexual Risks Among Southern Thai Drug Injectors , 2004, AIDS and Behavior.

[15]  Elizabeth Pisani,et al.  Sexual Behavior Among Injection Drug Users in 3 Indonesian Cities Carries a High Potential for HIV Spread to Noninjectors , 2003, Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes.

[16]  D. Chitwood,et al.  Prevalence and Risk Factors for HIV Among Sniffers, Short-Term Injectors, and Long-Term Injectors of Heroin , 2003, Journal of psychoactive drugs.

[17]  S. Strathdee,et al.  Rise in needle sharing among injection drug users in Pakistan during the Afghanistan war. , 2003, Drug and alcohol dependence.

[18]  K. Arriola,et al.  Male prisoners and HIV prevention: a call for action ignored. , 2003, American journal of public health.

[19]  S. Grigoryan,et al.  Rapid assessment of the situation on spread of injecting drug use and HIV infection in Yerevan, Armenia , 2002 .

[20]  D. Vlahov,et al.  Does Bleach Disinfection of Syringes Protect Against Hepatitis C Infection Among Young Adult Injection Drug Users? , 2002, Epidemiology.

[21]  W. Devillé,et al.  Risk factors of HIV infection and needle sharing among injecting drug users in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam , 2001 .

[22]  M. Ross,et al.  Sexual Behavior and Illicit Drug Use , 2001, Annual review of sex research.

[23]  W. Devillé,et al.  Risk factors of HIV infection and needle sharing among injecting drug users in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. , 2001, Journal of substance abuse.

[24]  Gaskin,et al.  The sharing of injecting paraphernalia by intravenous drug users (IDUs) within a Worcestershire cohort, with specific reference to water and filters. , 2000, The International journal on drug policy.

[25]  T. Brown,et al.  Behavioral Surveillance Surveys BSS. Guidelines for repeated behavioral surveys in populations at risk of HIV. , 2000 .

[26]  E. Trapido,et al.  Risk factors for HIV-1 seroconversion among injection drug users: a case-control study. , 1995, American journal of public health.

[27]  E H Kaplan,et al.  A model-based estimate of HIV infectivity via needle sharing. , 1992, Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes.

[28]  H V Fineberg,et al.  Bleach programs for preventing AIDS among i.v. drug users: modeling the impact of HIV prevalence. , 1991, American journal of public health.

[29]  R. Chaisson,et al.  Human immunodeficiency virus infection in heterosexual intravenous drug users in San Francisco. , 1987, American journal of public health.

[30]  D. C. Taylor.  Sexual Behavior and , 1969 .

[31]  J H Wolaver,et al.  Drug abuse. , 1969, Journal of the Tennessee Medical Association.