Assessing the Influence of Need to Inject and Drug Withdrawal on Drug Injectors' Perceptions of HIV Risk Behavior

Abstract

This article aims to assess the influence of the need to inject and drug withdrawal on drug injectors' perceptions of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk behavior inside and outside prison. Complementary qualitative research methods were used with 24 drug injectors in England. It was found that when sterile injecting equipment was unavailable the need to inject and drug withdrawal were important factors on the reported readiness to share injecting equipment. This finding was broadly consistent both outside and inside prison. However, different patterns of responses between these two environments were influenced by the social context in which HIV risk was considered. These perceptions of HIV risk are situationally specific, but the influence of the need for a drug injection and drug withdrawal on HIV risk behavior transcends social settings. Thus, HIV risk reduction strategies should be consistent outside and inside prison.

Keywords:

• drug dependence
• drug injectors
• drug withdrawal
• human immunodeficiency virus
• prisons
• risk reduction