Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #116526

Melissa A. Davey, MPH, CHES, Department of Health Policy & Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 1629 East Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21231, 410-502-5368, mdavey@jhsph.edu and Carl A. Latkin, PhD, Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, 624 N Broadway, Room 737, Baltimore, MD 21205.

Injection drug use is a risk factor for many health problems including HIV and Hepatitis. Drug injectors can reduce their risk for these diseases by practicing safe needle hygiene including using sterile needles, cleaning needles with bleach, and not sharing equipment with others. Few studies have assessed the impact of injection drug users' (IDU) psychosocial environment on the likelihood and frequency of needle hygiene practices. Many individual and psychosocial level factors may influence an individual's engagement in these behaviors. This study explores the role of drug users' perceived norms on needle hygiene behaviors. Participants were recruited for the STEP in Action program (STEP), a network-based intervention. Baseline data will be analyzed to examine the impact of perceived norms on needle hygiene behaviors. We hypothesize drug users who believe that their drug-using partners practice safe hygiene practices will be more likely to practice these behaviors as well. Also, individuals who perceive favorable views of risk reduction among their drug partners will be more likely to practice risk reduction. The results from this study may be used for development of both individual and social level harm reduction interventions among IDUs.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the difference between descriptive and injunctive norms.
• Determine the role of descriptive and injunctive norms on injection drug use behaviors.

Keywords: Injection Drug Users, Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.