Matt Gaughwin

Hiv Risk Behaviour of Idus Before, During and After Imprisonment in New South Wales

Objectives: To assess risk behaviours of HIV infected and HIV negative Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) in and out of prison in New South Wales in a case control study.Methods: 25 (20 M, 5 F) cases and 160 (135 M, 25 F) controls were recruited in 1993. HIV status was determined by testing dried blood spots.Results: Cases and controls were similar on basic demographic characteristics. Reports of injecting by cases and controls were more common before entry (84%, 90%) and after prison discharge (60%, 80%) than during incarceration (44%, 44%). However, reported syringe sharing was more common during imprisonment (64%, 71%) than before entry (19%, 24%) and after prison discharge (20%, 15%). Male cases were significantly more likely to use condoms outside prison (44% vs 7%) but also to be sexually active in prison (60%, 6%) than male controls.Conclusions: This study indicates the potential for HIV transmission among IDUs in prison and following release. To prevent HIV transmission in prisons, prison methadone progr...

Injecting behaviour and risky needle use amongst methadone maintenance clients

The injecting behaviour and risky needle use of a sample of 193 methadone maintenance clients was investigated. The majority of the sample (n = 116) reported injecting one or more drugs in the month prior to data collection. Compared with non-injectors, the injectors were slightly younger, had been on the methadone program for a shorter period of time, had lower methadone doses and more severe drug and legal problems. The injecting sub-group was examined in more detail by comparing those subjects whose injecting practices conformed to guidelines on minimizing risk of HIV transmission with those who, in the preceding month, made at least one injection contravening these guidelines and thus placed themselves at risk of contracting HIV. A greater proportion of these risky injectors were unemployed. Importantly, risky injectors had lesser knowledge of means of preventing the spread of HIV than safe injectors. It is concluded that the reduction of HIV transmission could be enhanced by improvements in methadone programs, particularly ensuring adequate dosing and high retention rates. Further, there is a need to improve knowledge with regard to what are safe and what are risky injecting practices and needle/syringe cleaning methods.

Changes in alcohol history taking and management of alcohol dependence by interns at The Royal Adelaide Hospital

The objective of this study is to determine whether the presence of a drug and alcohol unit and comprehensive medical education have made a difference to the detection and management of alcohol‐related problems in a general teaching hospital.

Correlates of retention on the South Australian Methadone Program 1981–91

Objectives: To investigate correlates of retention on the South Australian Methadone Program during 1981–91.

HIV infection among male prisoners in South Australia, 1989 to 1994

Abstract: The prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in male prisoners in South Australia from July 1989 to June 1994 was ascertained from a repeated cross–sectional study. We also compared the criminological and demographic characteristics and histories of drug use of 39 HIV–infected prisoners and a randomly selected sample of 86 uninfected prisoners admitted at the same time. The numbers of HIV–infected prisoners in prison in any month ranged from 4 to 12. Prevalence among the total prison population ranged from 0.4 per cent to 1.4 per cent, and among the subpopulation of injecting drug users from 1.25 per cent to 4.36 per cent. Many HIV–infected prisoners continued after their diagnosis to have lifestyles that resulted in imprisonment. Infected prisoners were significantly older, had spent longer in prison and were more likely to be users of heroin (OR = 13.1) and methadone (OR = 25.4) than controls. Infection with HIV among South Australian prisoners has been continuous since at least the mid–1980s. The recidivism among many of the infected prisoners contributes to the variation in prevalence but also raises concerns about their management. Greater effort to minimise the recidivism of the HIV–infected prisoners could reduce the prevalence of HIV in the prison population. (Aust N Z J Public Health 1997; 21: 572–6)

A new recruiting strategy to allow estimates of response rates in studies with people who inject drugs

A new method of recruiting people who inject drugs was employed in Adelaide in 1994 to attempt to obtain a response rate and demographic information about those who declined to participate. Numbered invitation cards were distributed to injecting drug users (IDUs). Those choosing not to participate were asked to complete 4 questions on the card and return them. 22.7%. Of all cards distributed resulted in an enquiry about the study and only 1.4% of the cards were returned from those who chose not to participate. This recruiting strategy is as successful as other strategies with the added advantage of estimating response rates.