FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH INJECTING RELATED RISK BEHAVIORS AMONG PEOPLE WHO INJECT DRUGS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS STUDY

Background and Aim : We designed this systematic review and meta-analysis study in an attempt to better understand factors associated with injecting related risk behaviors among people who inject drugs (PWID).Methods : We searched the English language citations in PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Cochrane electronic databases to find previous studies on risk behaviors among PWID. Two independent researchers reviewed all search results, screened for eligibility and extracted data independently. A meta-analysis was conducted with procreate polled odds ratios and the confidence intervals of 95% on factors associated with injecting risk behaviors among PWID. Results : After detailed assessment of the citations, we included 14 studies in our meta-analysis. Binge drug use (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.06–1.71) and drug type (OR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.22–1.77) are positively associated with the borrowing of already used syringes among PWID. Also, we found that drug type (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.16–1.64) and homelessness (OR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.27–2.51) had a positive association with the lending of already used syringes among PWID. Additionally, being HIV positive has a negative association with the lending of used syringes among PWID (OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.37–0.63).Conclusion : This systematic review and meta-analysis support harm-reduction initiatives especially the establishment and maintenance of sterile needle syringe programs.

کلیدواژه ها:

Risk behaviors ، People who inject drugs ، Borrowing syringes ، Lending syringes