Journal article
Injecting drug use: Gendered risk.
- Zahnow R School of Social Science, The University of Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: r.zahnow@uq.edu.au.
- Winstock AR Kings College London, United Kingdom.
- Maier LJ Swiss Research Institute for Public Health and Addiction, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
- Levy J International Network of People who Use Drugs (INPUD), United Kingdom.
- Ferris J Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland, Australia.
- 2018-04-04
Published in:
- The International journal on drug policy. - 2018
Female drug use
Gender
Harm reduction
Illegal drug use
Injecting
Injecting initiation
Adolescent
Adult
Drug Users
Europe
Europe, Eastern
Female
Harm Reduction
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Interpersonal Relations
Male
Middle Aged
Needle-Exchange Programs
North America
Risk-Taking
Sex Factors
Sexual Behavior
Sexual Partners
South America
Substance Abuse, Intravenous
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult
English
BACKGROUND
Research demonstrates gender related differences in drug-use practices and risk behaviours. Females' structural vulnerability stemming from traditional gender roles and gender-power relations may enhance their propensity to experience injecting related risk. In this paper we explore gender differences in injection practices at the initiation event, during the first year of injecting and in the most recent 12-month period, to inform more effective harm reduction strategies.
METHODS
Data used in this study were drawn from the Global Drug Survey 2015. The study employs chi-square and logistic regression to assess gender differences in injection behaviours in a sample of current injectors residing in six global regions: North-West Europe; Southern Eastern Europe; North America. South America and Oceania.
RESULTS
Females were more likely than males to report being injected by an intimate partner at initiation (OR = 4.4, 95%CI: 2.2-8.8), during the first year of injecting (OR = 4.8, 95% CI: 2.4-9.3) and in the most recent 12-month period (OR = 2.5, 95%CI: 1.0-6.2). Females reported greater difficulties accessing sterile equipment (X2(2,N = 453) = 8.2, p = 0.02) and were more likely to share injecting equipment than males (X2(1,N = 463) = 3.9, p = 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings highlight females' continued dependence on their intimate partner to administer the injection into the first year of their injecting career. Females remained more likely than males to rely on intimate partners for injection during the most recent 12-month period. Females report greater difficulties in sourcing sterile equipment and are more likely to share injecting equipment. We suggest that these findings reflect the broader social structure in which females are disempowered through traditional gender roles and the lack of gender appropriate harm reduction services.
Research demonstrates gender related differences in drug-use practices and risk behaviours. Females' structural vulnerability stemming from traditional gender roles and gender-power relations may enhance their propensity to experience injecting related risk. In this paper we explore gender differences in injection practices at the initiation event, during the first year of injecting and in the most recent 12-month period, to inform more effective harm reduction strategies.
METHODS
Data used in this study were drawn from the Global Drug Survey 2015. The study employs chi-square and logistic regression to assess gender differences in injection behaviours in a sample of current injectors residing in six global regions: North-West Europe; Southern Eastern Europe; North America. South America and Oceania.
RESULTS
Females were more likely than males to report being injected by an intimate partner at initiation (OR = 4.4, 95%CI: 2.2-8.8), during the first year of injecting (OR = 4.8, 95% CI: 2.4-9.3) and in the most recent 12-month period (OR = 2.5, 95%CI: 1.0-6.2). Females reported greater difficulties accessing sterile equipment (X2(2,N = 453) = 8.2, p = 0.02) and were more likely to share injecting equipment than males (X2(1,N = 463) = 3.9, p = 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings highlight females' continued dependence on their intimate partner to administer the injection into the first year of their injecting career. Females remained more likely than males to rely on intimate partners for injection during the most recent 12-month period. Females report greater difficulties in sourcing sterile equipment and are more likely to share injecting equipment. We suggest that these findings reflect the broader social structure in which females are disempowered through traditional gender roles and the lack of gender appropriate harm reduction services.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- closed
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.1016/j.drugpo.2018.03.018
- PMID 29614392
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/259837
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