A qualitative investigation into an HIV outbreak among injection drug users in Vancouver, British Columbia

• Published in: AIDS care Vol. 10; no. 3; pp. 313 - 321
• Main Authors: HARVEY, E., STRATHDEE, S. A., PATRICK, D. M., OFNER, M., ARCHIBALD, C. P., EADES, G., O'SHAUGHNESSY, M. V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis Group 01-06-1998; Taylor & Francis; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome; Addictions; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; British Columbia - epidemiology; Case-Control Studies; Disease Outbreaks; Drug Abuse; Drug Addiction; Drug Injection; Epidemiology; Female; General populations; Health Behavior; Health risk assessment; HIV; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV Infections - prevention & control; HIV Seropositivity; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Intravenous drug addicts; Male; Medical sciences; Needle Sharing; Prejudice; Prevention; Prevention and actions; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Qualitative research; Risk Factors; Sexual Behavior; Social Conditions; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - epidemiology; Vancouver; Vancouver, British Columbia; Canada; British Columbia; North America; America; Vancouver British Columbia Canada; Infection; Human; Prevention; Immunopathology; Drug addiction; Viral disease; Risk factor; AIDS; Immune deficiency; Public health
• ISSN: 0954-0121; 1360-0451
• DOI: 10.1080/713612412

The proportion of injection drug users (IDUs) testing positive for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in British Columbia has increased from 3 to 7% since January 1993 (Patrick et al ., 1997). We conducted a qualitative study as a first step in a case control investigation aimed at identifying risk factors associated with HIV seroconversion. Sixteen subjects participated in in-depth interviews which were transcribed and analysed using grounded theory methods. Three dominant themes emerged: Addiction, Prevention, and Social Determinants. The results suggest that prevention efforts such as the availability of clean needles and condoms are not adequate to combat the complex social determinants of addiction-be they causal or consequential-which in turn contribute to unsafe injection practices.