Skip to main content
PMC home page
The BMJ logoLink to The BMJ
. 1989 Apr 22;298(6680):1081–1083. doi: 10.1136/bmj.298.6680.1081

Risk behaviours for HIV infection among injecting drug users attending a drug dependency clinic.

G J Hart 1, C Sonnex 1, A Petherick 1, A M Johnson 1, C Feinmann 1, M W Adler 1
PMCID: PMC1836416  PMID: 2497900

Abstract

To study a range of possible risk factors for HIV among injecting drug user patients attending a clinic in London were interviewed from November 1986 to November 1987. Serum samples were tested for viral markers. Of 116 patients, 101 had shared injecting equipment, 75 on the first occasion of injecting and 76 during the past year. Seventy said that sharing was because equipment was not available. In the past year 102 had been sexually active, a third having two to 20 partners; a quarter of the women had exchanged sexual intercourse for money. The four patients who were positive for antibody to HIV antigen had shared equipment or had intercourse with drug users from areas with a high prevalence of HIV. Eleven patients had injected drugs while in prison. Despite a low prevalence of HIV infection this infection remains a threat to drug users in London; strenuous efforts are still needed to prevent its further transmission.

Full text

PDF
1081

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Angarano G., Pastore G., Monno L., Santantonio T., Luchena N., Schiraldi O. Rapid spread of HTLV-III infection among drug addicts in Italy. Lancet. 1985 Dec 7;2(8467):1302–1302. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(85)91581-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Brettle R. P., Bisset K., Burns S., Davidson J., Davidson S. J., Gray J. M., Inglis J. M., Lees J. S., Mok J. Human immunodeficiency virus and drug misuse: the Edinburgh experience. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1987 Aug 15;295(6595):421–424. doi: 10.1136/bmj.295.6595.421. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Des Jarlais D. C., Friedman S. R. HIV infection among intravenous drug users: epidemiology and risk reduction. AIDS. 1987 Jul;1(2):67–76. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Howard J., Borges P. Needle sharing in the Haight: some social and psychological functions. J Health Soc Behav. 1970 Sep;11(3):220–230. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Longenecker G. L., Swift I. A., Bowen R. J., Beyers B. J., Shah A. K. Kinetics of ibuprofen effect on platelet and endothelial prostanoid release. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1985 Mar;37(3):343–348. doi: 10.1038/clpt.1985.50. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. McMillan A. HIV in prisons. BMJ. 1988 Oct 8;297(6653):873–874. doi: 10.1136/bmj.297.6653.873. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Moss A. R. AIDS and intravenous drug use: the real heterosexual epidemic. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1987 Feb 14;294(6569):389–390. doi: 10.1136/bmj.294.6569.389. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Power R., Hartnoll R., Daviaud E. Drug injecting, AIDS, and risk behaviour: potential for change and intervention strategies. Br J Addict. 1988 Jun;83(6):649–654. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1988.tb02593.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Robertson J. R., Bucknall A. B., Welsby P. D., Roberts J. J., Inglis J. M., Peutherer J. F., Brettle R. P. Epidemic of AIDS related virus (HTLV-III/LAV) infection among intravenous drug abusers. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1986 Feb 22;292(6519):527–529. doi: 10.1136/bmj.292.6519.527. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Robertson J. R., Skidmore C. A., Roberts J. J. HIV infection in intravenous drug users: a follow-up study indicating changes in risk-taking behaviour. Br J Addict. 1988 Apr;83(4):387–391. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1988.tb00484.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Rodrigo J. M., Serra M. A., Aguilar E., del Olmo J. A., Gimeno V., Aparisi L. HTLV-III antibodies in drug addicts in Spain. Lancet. 1985 Jul 20;2(8447):156–157. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(85)90260-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Stimson G. V., Alldritt L., Dolan K., Donoghoe M. Syringe exchange schemes for drug users in England and Scotland. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1988 Jun 18;296(6638):1717–1719. doi: 10.1136/bmj.296.6638.1717. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Strang J. Changing injecting practices: blunting the needle habit. Br J Addict. 1988 Mar;83(3):237–239. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1988.tb00462.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Webb G., Wells B., Morgan J. R., McManus T. J. Epidemic of AIDS related virus infection among intravenous drug abusers. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1986 May 3;292(6529):1202–1202. doi: 10.1136/bmj.292.6529.1202. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from BMJ : British Medical Journal are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES