Table 1.
Characteristics of a sample of people who inject drugs in Providence, Rhode Island and Boston, Massachusetts, USA (2016–2017) (n = 33).
| Socio-Demographics | n (%)* |
|---|---|
| City | |
| Boston | 16 (48%) |
| Providence | 17 (52%) |
| Age in years; median (interquartile range; IQR) | 36 (32–48) |
| Race (categories are not mutually exclusive) | |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 3 (9%) |
| Black or African American | 7 (21%) |
| White | 22 (67%) |
| Other | 5 (15%) |
| Ethnicity: Hispanic/Latino | 8 (24%) |
| Gender | |
| Male | 18 (55%) |
| Female | 13 (39%) |
| Transwoman | 1 (3%) |
| Genderqueer | 1 (3%) |
| Sexual orientation | |
| Heterosexual or “Straight” | 21 (64%) |
| Bisexual | 8 (24%) |
| Homosexual or Gay | 4 (12%) |
| Educational attainment | |
| Less than high school | 9 (27%) |
| High school or GED | 13 (39%) |
| Some college (no degree) | 11 (33%) |
| Employment status (categories are not mutually exclusive) | |
| Employed full time (30+ hours per week) | 2 (6%) |
| Employed part time (<30 hours per week) | 5 (15%) |
| Unemployed | 23 (70%) |
| Retired | 1 (3%) |
| Disabled | 5 (15%) |
| Health insurance: has public health insurance | 32 (97%) |
| Sexual Health and Behaviors | |
| HIV testing, past year (number of times; n = 32) | |
| 0 | 2 (6%) |
| 1–2 | 18 (56%) |
| 3+ | 12 (37%) |
| STI testing, past year | 24 (73%) |
| Diagnosed with STI (excluding HCV), past year | 15 |
| Diagnosed with HCV, ever | 26 (79%) |
| Number of sex partners, past 3 months | |
| 0 | 6 (18%) |
| 1 | 12 (36%) |
| 2 | 6 (18%) |
| 3–9 | 4 (12%) |
| 10+ | 5 (15%) |
| Condom use, past 3 months (vaginal or anal sex; n = 27 with ≥1 sex partner) | |
| Never | 11 (41%) |
| Rarely/Sometimes | 8 (30%) |
| Usually | 3 (11%) |
| Always | 5 (19%) |
| Substance Use Behaviors | |
| Frequency of drug injection, past 3 months | |
| Once a Week or Less | 5 (15%) |
| 2 to 6 Days a Week | 8 (24%) |
| Once a Day Everyday | 3 (9%) |
| More Than Once a Day Everyday | 17 (51%) |
| Drugs injected, past 3 months (not mutually exclusive) | |
| Heroin | 31 (94%) |
| Prescription opioids | 3 (9%) |
| Methadone | 1 (3%) |
| Cocaine | 23 (70%) |
| Crack | 13 (39%) |
| Crystal Methamphetamine | 11 (33%) |
| Cocaine / Heroin Combination (“Speedball”) | 12 (36%) |
| Current syringe access (not mutually exclusive) | |
| Syringe Service Program (“Syringe Exchange”) | 27 (82%) |
| Pharmacy | 10 (30%) |
| Other people | 5 (15%) |
| Number of people from whom participant received a used syringe, past month | |
| 0 | 14 (42%) |
| 1–2 | 15 (45%) |
| ≥3 | 4 (12%) |
| Any distributive or receptive syringe sharing, past month | 21 (64%) |
| PrEP Knowledge | |
| Had Heard of Oral PrEP Prior to Study Participation | 12 (36%) |
*
May exceed 100% when categories were not mutually exclusive.