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Inconsistent Condom Use and Risk Taking Among People Who Inject Drugs in Saveh: Finding from a Cross-Sectional Study in Iran

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Abstract

Introduction

Few studies have investigated correlates of inconsistent condom use (ICU) among people who inject drugs (PWID). This study aimed to determine sociodemographic characteristics, type of drug use, risky behaviors, and service utilization associated with ICU among PWID.

Methods

The study was cross-sectional, conducted between April 2020 and May 2021 in Saveh city (Iran). Sociodemographic, substance use, risky behaviors, and service use data were collected on 272 PWID interviewed face-to-face using a structured survey. The survey included a validated questionnaire with scales in which internal consistency reliability was estimated. ICU was assessed based on how often condoms were used with any sexual partners, including sex workers and casual partners, with four possible responses: always (100%), regularly (50–99%), occasionally (1–49%), and never. Data were produced using bivariate and multivariate regression analyses.

Results

Participants mainly were male, were married, are more than 30 years old and had an income of 50 USA dollars per month. Compared to PWID without ICU, participants who were more likely to have ICU were those who used amphetamine in the past 3 months (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.07, P < 0.05) and had high HIV risk perception (AOR = 2.12, P < 0.05), while participants less likely to have ICU were those who were single, widowed, or separated (AOR = 0.50, P < 0.05) and using needle sharing program (NSP) (AOR = 0.37, P < 0.05).

Conclusions

ICU can be improved among PWID by providing counselling and training on high-risk sexual behaviors, such as sexually transmitted infections (STI) and HIV risk perception, and by encouraging the use of contraceptives with sexual partners. Other impactful measures could address regular HIV testing and awareness, promoting condom self-efficacy and applying pre-exposure prophylaxis by NSP.

Policy Implications

Preventive and harm reduction measures can substantially help minimize the risks of STI in this population. This is especially true for methamphetamine users who can highly benefit from condom distribution, needle and syringe exchange programs, and antagonist substitution treatments. As a result, risky sexual behavior and the incidence of STI might be considerably declined in this group.

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Availability of Data and Materials

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the present study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abbreviations

ICU:

Inconsistent condom use

PWID:

People who inject drugs

NSP:

Needle and syringe program

STI:

Sexually transmitted infections

DIC:

Drop-in centers

AOR:

Adjusted odds ratio

CI:

Confidence interval

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the funding for this research of Saveh University of Medical Sciences.

Funding

The study was funded by Saveh University of Medical Sciences. Study design, data collection, and data analysis were all conducted independently of the funding body. This manuscript was prepared independently and did not necessarily reflect the views of the study’s funders. No funding was provided for the preparation of this manuscript.

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Authors

Contributions

BA conceived the study and BA collected all the data. BA and AB analyzed and interpreted the data. BA and EA drafted the manuscript. BA, AB, and MJ contributed to the revised paper and BA was responsible for all final editing. All authors commented on the drafts of the manuscript and approved the final copy of the paper for submission.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bahram Armoon.

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Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

Verbal and written consent forms were obtained from all participants prior to the interviews. Participants also were informed that participation was voluntary and anonymous and that they could withdraw from the study at any time. The study protocol and all the procedures were reviewed and approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Saveh University of Medical Sciences (ethical research code: IR.SAVEHUMS.REC.1398.025).

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Armoon, B., Fleury, MJ., Bayani, A. et al. Inconsistent Condom Use and Risk Taking Among People Who Inject Drugs in Saveh: Finding from a Cross-Sectional Study in Iran. Sex Res Soc Policy 20, 993–999 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-022-00776-x

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