Factors associated with HIV risk behaviors among males who inject drugs in Pinlebu township, Northern Sagaing region, Myanmar

Abstract

People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) are vulnerable people for HIV infections. The main behaviors that increase risk of HIV infection in PWID are using previously used needles and syringes and inconsistent condom use with their sexual partners. The objective of this study was to identify the factors associated with HIV risk behaviors among males who inject drugs in Pinlebu Township, Northern Sagaing Region, Myanmar. A total of 204 male PWID were recruited into the study. HIV risk behaviors were assessed using structured questionnaires containing injecting risk behaviors and sexual risk behaviors. Association between variables was analysed using univariate and multiple logistic regression. The results show that overall HIV risk behaviors was 29.9% among male PWID respondents. Age, marital status, frequency of receiving information of harm reduction services, availability and accessibility of harm reduction services were found to be associated with HIV risk behaviors. The respondents who were less than 35 years old were 3.24 times more likely to have HIV risk behaviors than those who were 35 years old or more (adjusted OR=3.24, 95%CI=1.37-7.70, p-value=0.008). Respondents who were previously married were 6.84 times more likely to have HIV risk behaviors than single PWID (adjusted OR=6.84, 95%CI=2.22-20.93, p-value=0.001). Regarding frequency of receiving information of harm reduction services, respondents who received once a week or once a month were 3.77 times more likely to have HIV risk behaviors than those who received the information every day or 2-3 times a week. (adjusted OR=3.77, 95%CI=1.42-10.01, p-value=0.008). For the availability, respondents who had poor to moderate available to harm reduction services were 16.4 times more likely to have HIV risk behaviors than those who had good availability (adjusted OR=16.4, 95%CI=3.28-81.88, p-value=0.001). In addition, respondents who had poor to moderate accessibility of harm reduction services were 4.57 times more likely to have HIV risk behaviors than those who had good accessibility (adjusted OR=4.57, 95%CI=1.10-18.93, p-value =0.036). IMPLICATION OF THESIS There should be a program focused on young people with harm reduction approach and expending the availability and accessibility of harm reduction services to reduce the HIV risk behaviors in PWID.