Public Health
Volume 120, Issue 7 , Pages 634-640, July 2006

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

  • M. Kermode

      Affiliations

    • Australian International Health Institute, School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Level 5/207 Bouverie Street, Melbourne, Vic. 3010, Australia
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +61 3 8344 9128; fax: +61 3 8344 9130.
    • ,
  • L.B. Singh

      Affiliations

    • Social Awareness Services Organization (SASO), Imphal, Manipur, India
    • ,
  • R.K. Raju

      Affiliations

    • North-East Indian Harm Reduction Network, Imphal, Manipur, India
    • ,
  • S. Alam

      Affiliations

    • Society for Service to Urban Poverty (SHARAN), New Delhi, India
    • ,
  • H. Cox

      Affiliations

    • Australian International Health Institute, School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Level 5/207 Bouverie Street, Melbourne, Vic. 3010, Australia
    • ,
  • N. Crofts

      Affiliations

    • Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre, Melbourne, Vic., Australia

Received 10 March 2005; received in revised form 4 October 2005; accepted 31 January 2006.

Summary 

Objectives

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.

Methods

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.

Results

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.

Conclusion

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.

Keywords: Injecting drug users, Injection safety, Blood-borne pathogens, India

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PII: S0033-3506(06)00077-1

doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2006.01.013

Public Health
Volume 120, Issue 7 , Pages 634-640, July 2006

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