Journal article
The perceived consequences of safer injection: An exploration of qualitative findings and gender differences
Psychology, health & medicine, v 15(5), pp 560-573
01 Oct 2010
PMID: 20835966
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Injection drug users (IDUs) are at a risk for HIV and other bloodborne pathogens via syringe and paraphernalia sharing, with females being at elevated risk. Consequences of injection risk behavior such as the risk of becoming infected with HIV have been relatively well studied, though less is known about the consequences of refusing to share injection equipment. We conducted indepth qualitative interviews with 26 IDUs recruited from a syringe exchange program in Los Angeles, California, USA, to understand the consequences of refusing to share injection equipment and to determine whether these perceived consequences differ by gender. Perceived consequences were organized into four domains using a social ecological framework: microsystem (perceived risk for HIV, drug withdrawal or forgoing drug use), exosystem (trust and social norms), mesosystem (precarious housing and shelter policies), and macrosystem (syringe access/inconvenience, economic and legal consequences). Gender differences were identified in some, but not in all areas. Effective public health interventions among IDUs will benefit from a holistic perspective that considers the environmental and social rationality (Kowalewski, M., Henson, K.D., & Longshore, D. (1997). Rethinking perceived risk and health behavior: A critical review of HIV prevention research. Health Education and Behavior, 24(3), 313-325) of decisions regarding injection risk behavior and assists individuals in addressing the consequences that they perceive to be the most salient.
Metrics
Details
- Title
- The perceived consequences of safer injection: An exploration of qualitative findings and gender differences
- Creators
- Karla D Wagner - Department of Medicine, Division of Global Public Health , University of California San DiegoStephen E Lankenau - Department of Community Health and Prevention , School of Public Health, Drexel UniversityLawrence A Palinkas - Departments of Anthropology and Preventive Medicine, and School of Social Work , University of Southern CaliforniaJean L Richardson - Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research, Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine , University of Southern CaliforniaChih-Ping Chou - Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research, Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine , University of Southern CaliforniaJennifer B Unger - Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research, Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine , University of Southern California
- Publication Details
- Psychology, health & medicine, v 15(5), pp 560-573
- Publisher
- Routledge
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Community Health and Prevention
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000281729800007
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-77956569732
- Other Identifier
- 991014877889504721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health