Injections for health-related reasons amongst injecting drug users in New Delhi and Imphal, India

Abstract

In many parts of the world where unsafe injection practices in health settings are common, the prevalence of blood-borne viruses (BBVs) is high amongst injecting drug users (IDUs). If IDUs in these settings are receiving injections for health-related reasons, the possibility of amplification of BBV transmission via medical injections exists. The aim of this study is to describe the nature and extent of injections received for health-related reasons amongst IDUs in two Indian cities, New Delhi and Imphal. A cross-sectional survey of 200 IDUs was conducted in late 2004. Trained peer outreach workers asked participants about health problems experienced, consultations with healthcare providers and health-related injections received in the preceding 4 weeks. Most participants (99.5%) were male, the average age was 29 years, and the average time since first injection of illicit drugs was 6 years. A total of 133 injections were received for health-related reasons during the preceding 4 weeks by 15% of the participants. The average number of injections was 8.6/participant/year. Injections for health-related reasons were commonplace amongst these IDUs. Therefore, amplification of BBV transmission within communities due to unsafe injections is possible and warrants further investigation.