University of Virginia's College at Wise, 1 College Ave, Wise, VA, 24293, USA.
University of Pikeville, Pikeville, KY, 41501, USA.
J Community Health. 2020 Apr;45(2):239-244. doi: 10.1007/s10900-019-00732-8.
The spread of infectious diseases, including Human Immunodeficiency virus and Hepatitis C virus, is a major risk of injection drug use. The Center for Disease Control's 2015 ranking of counties vulnerable to rapid dissemination of HIV/HCV infection among people who inject drugs (PWID) places Dickenson County, Virginia at 29th in the nation and 2nd in Virginia. Comprehensive Harm Reduction is an evidence-based intervention shown to reduce the negative impacts of drug use including the spread of infectious diseases, overdose and death among people who are unable or not ready to stop using drugs. The aim of this study was to assess community perceptions of comprehensive harm reduction programs and stigma towards PWID in a rural community. Data were collected through the use of an anonymous survey and interviews with community stakeholders. Surveys were distributed online through email and social media, as well as in person. Participants were included based on their zip code as an indicator of residence in Dickenson County. Statistical analysis of survey results was conducted using Sigma Plot. The survey was completed by 153 participants. The perception of PWID in rural Virginia is strikingly negative. Participants consider injection drug use a major problem in their community but have little to no knowledge of harm reduction programs and display high levels of stigma towards PWID. Additionally, higher levels of stigma towards PWID was associated with lower support for CHR programs. The results of this study show a definite and perceived need for harm reduction programs in rural Virginia. Challenges to implementing harm reduction programs include low levels of knowledge and high levels of stigma.
传染病的传播,包括人类免疫缺陷病毒和丙型肝炎病毒,是注射毒品使用的主要风险。疾病控制中心 2015 年对易感染艾滋病毒/丙型肝炎病毒的注射毒品者(PWID)人群迅速传播的县进行的排名中,弗吉尼亚州迪金森县在全国排名第 29 位,在弗吉尼亚州排名第 2 位。综合减少伤害是一种基于证据的干预措施,已被证明可以减少药物使用的负面影响,包括在无法或尚未准备停止使用药物的人群中传染病的传播、过量用药和死亡。本研究旨在评估农村社区对综合减少伤害方案和对 PWID 的污名化的社区看法。数据通过使用匿名调查和对社区利益相关者的访谈收集。通过电子邮件和社交媒体以及当面分发在线调查。参与者是根据他们的邮政编码(作为居住在迪金森县的指标)被包括在内的。使用 Sigma Plot 对调查结果进行了统计分析。共有 153 名参与者完成了调查。农村弗吉尼亚州对 PWID 的看法非常负面。参与者认为注射吸毒是他们社区的一个主要问题,但对减少伤害方案几乎一无所知,对 PWID 表现出高度的污名化。此外,对 PWID 的污名化程度越高,对 CHR 方案的支持度就越低。这项研究的结果表明,农村弗吉尼亚州确实需要减少伤害方案。实施减少伤害方案的挑战包括知识水平低和污名化程度高。
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