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Gender-Specific Situational Correlates of Syringe Sharing During a Single Injection Episode

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Abstract

Factors associated with syringe sharing differ between women and men; however, it is uncertain whether these hold within the setting of a single injection episode. A questionnaire eliciting information about the last injection episode with others present was administered to participants in a cohort of Montréal injection drug users (IDUs). Logistic regression was used to identify correlates of syringe sharing and to test potential gender differences in relation to syringe sharing. Data from 467 participants revealed significant differences between men and women with regard to situational factors; however, the relationships between situational factors and syringe sharing did not vary according to gender. In multivariate models including both genders, syringe sharing was associated with various attributes of other IDUs who were present as well as alcohol use during that specific episode. These results highlight the relevance of situational factors in injection drug use activity, regardless of gender.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge Élisabeth Deschesnes, Didier Jutras-Aswad, Martin Rioux, Geng Zang, and the other staff at the Saint-Luc Cohort research site for sharing their wisdom and expertise during the data analysis and interpretation phases of this project. Dr. Abby Lippman provided feedback throughout the writing process. We are grateful to Dr. Stephanie Tortu who provided us with a validated event-analysis questionnaire that served as the basis for this investigation. We extend special thanks to the Saint-Luc Cohort participants, without whom this study would not have been possible. Supported by grants from Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and by le Réseau SIDA- maladies infectieuses du Fonds de Recherche en Santé du Québec.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada

    Travis Salway Hottes

  2. CRCHUM, Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, 1058 Saint-Denis, Montréal, QC, H2X 3J4, Canada

    Julie Bruneau & Mark Daniel

  3. Département de Médecine Familiale, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada

    Julie Bruneau

  4. School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia

    Mark Daniel

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  1. Travis Salway Hottes
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  2. Julie Bruneau
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Correspondence to Julie Bruneau.

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Hottes, T.S., Bruneau, J. & Daniel, M. Gender-Specific Situational Correlates of Syringe Sharing During a Single Injection Episode. AIDS Behav 15, 75–85 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-009-9530-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-009-9530-5

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