Worry as a window into the lives of people who use injection drugs : a factor analysis approach
Date
2009-07-29
Authors
Exner, Heidi
Gibson, Erin K.
Stone, Ryan
Lindquist, Jennifer
Cowen, Laura L.E.
Roth, Eric A.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BioMed Central
Abstract
Background: The concept of risk dominates the HIV/AIDS literature pertaining to People Who
Use Injection Drugs (PWUID). In contrast the associated concept of worry is infrequently applied,
even though it can produce important perspectives of PWUID's lives. This study asked a sample (n
= 105) of PWUID enrolled in a Victoria, British Columbia needle exchange program to evaluate
their degree of worry about fourteen factors they may encounter in their daily lives.
Methods: Exploratory factor analysis was used to analyze their responses.
Results: Factor analysis delineated three factors: 1) overall personal security, 2) injection drug usespecific
risks including overdosing and vein collapse and, 3) contracting infectious diseases
associated with injection drug use (e.g. HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C).
Conclusion: PWUID in this study not only worry about HIV/AIDS but also about stressful factors
in their daily life which have been linked to both increased HIV/AIDS risk behaviour and decreased
anti-retroviral treatment adherence. The importance PWUID give to this broad range of worry/
concerns emphasizes the need to place HIV/AIDS intervention, education, and treatment programs
within a broader harm-reduction framework that incorporates their perspectives on both worry
and risk.
Description
BioMed Central
Keywords
Citation
Exner et al. Worry as a window into the lives of people who use injection drugs: a factor analysis approach. Harm Reduction Journal 2009 6:20