A GENETIC BIOMARKER STUDY TO MEASURE UNDER-REPORTING OF NEEDLE AND SYRINGE SHARING AMONG PEOPLE WHO INJECT DRUGS IN KERMANSHAH, IRAN

Background and Aim : Previous research has argued that needle and syringe sharing is under-reported by people who inject drugs (PWID). Objectives: We aimed to measure under-reporting bias in needle and syringe sharing using a genetic biomarker assay. Methods : Using convenience sampling data on self-report of needle and syringe sharing for 320 PWID in Kermanshah, were compared with results from genetic biomarkers to detect sharing. The questionnaire included items on socio-demographic characteristics, drug use, and HIV risk behaviors in the 30 days preceding the interview. We also reported the true and observed prevalence of needle and syringe sharing as measured by genetic biomarker and self-report. Finally ,we used logistic model regression to identify factors associated with under-reporting.Results : Participants ranged in age from 18 to 54 years, mean = 27 years; SD = 7.6 years. The mean, SD and median durations of injection drug use were 5.0 ± 4.2 and 4.1 (IQR: 3.3–11.5). Using the genetic biomarker, out of the 320 PWID, 95 persons (29.7%, 95% CI: 24.7- 35.0) have shared needle and syringe. Interestingly, self-reported HIV positive PWID were more likely to under-report needle and syringe sharing compared with those PWID who reported being HIV-seronegative(AOR=1.8 ; 95% CI: 1.06- 4.3; p value= 0.02). Conclusion : HIV positive PWID were more likely to under-report needle and syringe sharing compared with HIV negative PWID. These findings have important implications for future risk behavior studies especially those evaluating NSP effectiveness in BBV prevention.

کلیدواژه ها:

under-reporting ، syringe sharing ، inject drugs ، Iran