Correlates of Receptive and Distributive Needle Sharing Among Injection Drug Users in Kabul, Afghanistan

Abstract

We describe receptive and distributive needle/syringe sharing among injection drug users (IDUs) in Kabul, Afghanistan. In this cross-sectional study, IDUs completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Logistic regression identified correlates of needle sharing in the last six months. Receptive and distributive sharing in the last six months were reported by 28.2% and 28.7% of participants, respectively, and were both independently associated with reported difficulty obtaining new syringes (Receptive sharing: AOR = 2.60, 95% CI: 1.66–4.06; Distributive: AOR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.02–2.39). Receptive and distributive sharing are common among IDU in Kabul; scaling up availability of sterile, no-cost injecting equipment is urgently needed.

Keywords:

• Afghanistan
• distributive needle sharing
• injection drug use
• receptive needle sharing