3163.0: Monday, November 13, 2000: 4:30 PM-6:00 PM | ||||
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| Injection drug use is the most frequently reported source of new HIV-1 and hepatitis C infections, currently accounting for half of all new infections in the U.S. A significant epidemiological feature of injection-related HIV-1 transmission is that viral spread is mediated by drug injection paraphernalia, primarily syringes, but also, possibly, cookers, cottons, and syringe rinse water. Researchers have compiled a substantial body of information on AIDS and related health risks among IDUs. The role of injector/injection equipment interaction has been highlighted in these studies. Nonetheless, we still lack a comprehensive, context-sensitive understanding of equipment mediated risk across the primary segments of the drug use process. Additionally, it is not clear how equipment-mediated risk varies across the neighborhoods and cities in which IDUs live and acquire and use drugs. In the Northeastern U.S., researchers in CT and MA are utilizing cutting-edge anthropological and public health research methodologies in order to learn more about macro- and micro-social factors that influence HIV and hepatitis risk related to syringe access, use and discard. Qualitative research methods, including social mapping, IDU diaries, in-depth interviews and participant observation, coupled with survey interviews, have proven to be quite effective in enabling researchers to enter neighborhoods, learn about risk behaviors, and better understand the cultural and socioeconomic contexts that influence health outcomes. In this panel, members of our multidisciplinary team will highlight preliminary findings surrounding syringe access, use and discard. Additionally, implications for future research and for risk reduction within the substance abusing population will be explored | ||||
| See individual abstracts for presenting author's disclosure statement. | ||||
| Learning Objectives: Refer to the individual abstracts for learning objectives | ||||
| Sam Smith | ||||
| Merrill Singer, PhD | ||||
| HIV and Syringe Access in Massachusetts and Connecticut: The health implications of public policy David R. Buchanan, DrPH | ||||
| Snapshots: Investigating the trends in drug injection and HIV risk in Connecticut cities Robert Heimer, PhD, Merril Singer, PhD, Lauretta E. Grau, PhD, Kaveh Khoshnood, George Barton, BA, Scott Clair, PhD, Tom Stopka, MHS, Wei Teng, PhD | ||||
| Social mapping of AIDS risk: Understanding neighborhoods through the eyes of injection drug users Tom Stopka, MHS, Merrill Singer, PhD, Kristen Springer, MPH, George Barton, Cara Siano, MPH, Sam Smith, Antonio Arzola | ||||
| Urban female injection drug users in three northeastern cities: Gender dynamics of HIV and hepatitis risk Cara Siano, MPH, April Gorry de Puga, PhD, Kristen Springer, MPH | ||||
| Getting closer: use of diary-interviews to study HIV risk among injectors Kaveh Khoshnood, PhD, George Barton, Kristen Springer, Robert Heimer, PhD, Kim Blankenship, PhD, Edward Simard, Tom Stopka, April Gorry De Puga, Wei Teng, Merrill Singer, Antonio Arzola, Sam Smith, Cara Siano, David Buchanan | ||||
| Sponsor: | Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs | |||
| Cosponsors: | HIV/AIDS SPIG; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Caucus of Public Health Workers; Socialist Caucus | |||