Syringe and needle exchange as HIV/AIDS prevention for injection drug users

FRANÇAIS :
On a enquêté auprès de 5644 toxicomanes intraveineux en cure de désintoxication pour évaluer l'efficacité des programmes d'échange de seringues. En 1992, 45% des toxicomanes utilisent des seringues obtenues grâce au programme et 61% avaient utilisé ce programme l'année précédente. Sur un échantillon de 752 personnes, on a mis en évidence six facteurs liés à la diminution du partage des seringues: - l'utilisation d'un programme d'échange de seringues; - avoir fait le test de dépistage et reçu des conseils; - l'utilisation de préservatifs; - être d'âge moyen être afro-américain. Par contre, l'injection de cocaïne est un facteur prédictif de partage de seringues.
ENGLISH :
To evaluate an all-volunteer syringe exchange program in San Francisco, Calif., 5644 interviews were conducted with injection drug users recruited in two 21-day drug detoxification clinics and three street settings. In spring 1992, 45% reported "usually" obtaining injection equipment from the syringe exchange, and 61% reported using the program within the past year. During the period from December 1986 through June 1992, the median reported frequency of injection declined from 1.9 injections per day to 0.7 injection per day, the mean age increased from 36 to 42 years, and the percentage of new initiates into injection drug use decreased from 3% to 1%. In logistic regression analysis (of fall 1991 through spring 1992 interviews; n=752), we found six independent factors associated with syringe sharing. Protective from syringe sharing were use of the syringe exchange program, having received human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) testing and counseling, condom use, older age, and African-American race. Injection of cocaine was a predictor for syringe sharing. The strength of association betweeen use of the syringe exchange program and not sharing syringes was greatest in injection drug users younger than the median age of 40 years. (Extract from the authors' abstract)