HIV/AIDS risk behaviors among injecting drug users: Addressing development of risk behavior knowledge and patterns of risk behavior practices in context of demographic characteristics

Abstract

Objectives: The present study is aimed to investigate patterns of HIV/AIDS risk behaviour practices (sexual and syringe sharing) among injecting drug users by addressing; 1. Factors effecting acquisition of risk behaviour knowledge, and 2. Demographic and psychosocial characteristics influencing practice of risk behaviour knowledge. Design: This is a cross sectional study, patients admitted for treatment and rehabilitation from injecting drug abuse, were interviewed and statistical testing was conducted using SPSS 10.1 to identify critical factors of risk behaviour practices. Material and Method: 149 male injecting drug users were included in the present study; females were excluded due to insignificant representation. Patients were interviewed on a self-developed structured questionnaire for demographic and psychosocial characteristics and another structured questionnaire was used to obtain level of risk behaviour knowledge and frequency of risk behaviour practices. Place and Duration: The study was conducted at Model Drug Abuse Control Center (MDACC), a subdivision of Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur, a teaching hospital affiliated with Quaid-e-Azam Medical College. Results and Discussion: Present study investigated HIV/AIDS risk behaviour practices in injecting drug users. Results showed that only two sources of knowledge Television and Print Media significantly influenced acquisition of risk behaviour knowledge (p=0.05). Among demographic characteristics, of IDUs and their access to sources of knowledge, only socioeconomic status (p=0.01) and education (p=0.001) were associated with access to sources of knowledge. Finally, the study concerns with differences in demographic characteristics and their association to risk behaviour practices. Post Hoc analysis of demographic characteristics showed that only middle level of education predicted low syringe sharing risk behaviours with (Mean difference = -1.19, P =0.03). Sexual risk behaviour was predicted by marital status and Living status. Patients living alone showed higher levels of risk behaviour practices than patients living with parents (Mean difference = 1.61, P = 0.001) and patients living with family (Mean difference = 1.31, P =0.02). In addition, high frequency of injections predicted higher levels of risk behaviour practices. Conclusion: The study reveals some flaws in HIV/AIDS risk behaviour preventions programs, as more access to channels of sources didn’t predict low risk Behaviour. Serious efforts are required in awareness campaigns by considering specific needs of injecting drug users.