RTI International, 3040 E. Cornwallis Road, PO Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC, 2709-2194, USA.
Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
Harm Reduct J. 2018 Aug 31;15(1):44. doi: 10.1186/s12954-018-0249-3.
In 2012, the World Health Organization recommended that needle and syringe programs offer their clients low dead space insulin syringes with permanently attached needles. However, in many countries, these syringes are not acceptable to a majority of people who inject drugs. This study assessed the feasibility of working with needle and syringe programs to implement the WHO recommendation using low dead space detachable needles. The study also assessed the acceptability of the needles.
Two needle and syringe programs in Tajikistan-one in Kulob and one in Khudjand-received 25,000 low dead space detachable needles each. The programs distributed low dead space detachable needles and a marketing flyer that emphasized the relative advantages of the needles. Each program also enrolled 100 participants, and each participant completed a baseline interview and a 2-month follow-up interview.
At follow-up, 100% of participants reported trying the low dead space detachable needles, and 96% reported that they liked using the needles. Both needle and syringe programs distributed all their needles within the first 60 days of the project indicating use of the needles, even among clients who did not participate in the study.
This project demonstrates that it is feasible for needle and syringe programs to offer and promote low dead space needles to their clients. The findings indicate that low dead space needles are acceptable to needle and syringe program clients in these Tajikistan cities. To reduce HIV and hepatitis C virus transmission, needle and syringe programs should offer low dead space needles, low dead space insulin syringes in addition to standard needles, and syringes to their clients.
2012 年，世界卫生组织建议针具交换项目为其客户提供带有永久性连接针头的低死腔胰岛素注射器。然而，在许多国家，大多数注射毒品者无法接受这些注射器。本研究评估了与针具交换项目合作实施世卫组织建议使用低死腔可分离针头的可行性。该研究还评估了这些针头的可接受性。
塔吉克斯坦的两个针具交换项目（一个在库尔干秋别，另一个在胡占德）各收到 25000 支低死腔可分离针头。这些项目分发了低死腔可分离针头和宣传传单，强调了这些针头的相对优势。每个项目还招募了 100 名参与者，每个参与者都完成了基线访谈和为期两个月的随访访谈。
随访时，100%的参与者报告尝试使用了低死腔可分离针头，96%的参与者报告喜欢使用这些针头。两个针具交换项目都在项目启动后的前 60 天内分发完了所有的针头，表明即使是未参与研究的客户也在使用这些针头。
该项目表明，针具交换项目为其客户提供和推广低死腔针头是可行的。研究结果表明，低死腔针头在这些塔吉克斯坦城市的针具交换项目客户中是可以接受的。为了减少艾滋病毒和丙型肝炎病毒的传播，针具交换项目应向其客户提供低死腔针头、除标准针头之外的低死腔胰岛素注射器以及注射器。
