400P
TO ENCOURAGE IDUs TO USE STERILE NEEDLES AT EACH INJECTION: A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF SALIENT BEHAVIOURAL AND CONTROL BELIEFS
H Gagnon1, G Godin1, M Gagnon2, G Beauregard3
¹Université Laval; 2Point de Repères, Québec; 3Spectre de rue, Montréal, Québec
Background: Many studies have tried to understand needle-sharing behaviour among IDUs, but few have focused on the protective behaviour of always using a sterile needle.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the salient behavioural and control beliefs towards always using sterile needles among the IDU clientele of needle exchange programs.
Methods: Two focus groups and sixteen individual interviews were held with a total of 21 IDUs (six women and 15 men) who use the services of two needle exchange programs in the province of Québec. Participants discussed the barriers and facilitating factors, and the advantages and disadvantages of always using a sterile needle.
Results: Salient behavioural beliefs were: less risk of missing their "hit"; less risk of catching a bacterium and developing an abscess; and new needles leave less scars and the injection is less painful. Salient barriers were: being too "high" to think about using a sterile needle; a lack of access to sterile material; impatience related to the craving sensation; fear of being arrested with a lot of syringes; having given their own new needles to other IDUs; using drugs with many other users; and believing that one will not use drugs anymore. Facilitating factors were: better planning of the right quantity of syringes to be used; being alone when taking drugs; throwing away their used syringes; and always having new needles at hand.
Conclusion: This study shows that several beliefs are associated with IDUs' motivation to always use sterile syringes. These salient beliefs should be considered in developing prevention programs targeting the IDU clientele of needle exchange programs. Special attention should also be given to control beliefs and conditions facilitating this preventive behaviour.