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Biomedical subjects

J Rankin

Publications and source records attributed to J Rankin.

117 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviour in injection drug users attending a Toronto treatment facility.

Ninety injection drug users (61 males, 29 females) attending the Addiction Research Foundation Clinical Institute completed an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire about their knowledge, attitudes and behaviour regarding Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. Sixty-two percent had used drugs for more than five years; 61% used primarily heroin, 20% cocaine. Needle sharing was common: 76% within 5 years, 37% within the preceding month, although 87% named needle sharing as a risk factor for HIV infection. Current needle sharers could not be distinguished from former sharers on selected demographic, attitudinal or knowledge variables. Twenty percent of respondents had been HIV tested (all negative); 88% reported willingness to be tested. Thirteen percent would consider suicide or resume heavy drug use in response to a positive test; 19% were uncertain about their response. There may be a risk of serious harm to IDUs who are tested in the absence of excellent counselling and support services.

Academies and Institutes↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus and associated risk behaviour in injection drug users in Toronto.

During 1989-90, interviews were conducted with 582 current injection drug users in the City of Toronto, 535 of whom also provided blood and/or saliva for anonymous unlinked HIV antibody testing. The rate of seropositivity identified was 4.3% (95% CI 3-6). The subjects were predominantly male, with a mean age of 28.3. The commonest drug of choice was cocaine (70%). Forty-six percent of the subjects reported using someone else's needle in the preceding six months, 60% of these indicating that they always cleaned it first. Eighty-one percent of those interviewed had been in jail at some time since they began injecting; 25% of these had injected while in custody, and of these 61% had shared injection equipment. Eighty-two percent of the men and 85.4% of the women reported opposite sex partners in the previous six months. Only about 20% of men reported consistent condom use, while 22% of females reported condom use at least 75% of the time.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Biographical characteristics of injection drug users and behavioural predispositions related to HIV prevention and drug use.

OBJECTIVE: This paper presents a preliminary analysis of the determinants of selected behavioural predispositions toward HIV prevention among injection drug users. METHOD: An exploratory factor analysis was used to group attitudinal, behavioural intention and change statements into five predisposing factors and the correlates with these were examined using general linear regression. RESULTS: The analysis demonstrates that many IDUs have responded to AIDS and highlights the characteristics of those who are predisposed to unsafe practices. Predispositions toward safer sex appear to be contextually determined, and needle-sharing determined by socio-behavioural history. CONCLUSIONS: The data emphasize the need for prevention programs in educational and correctional systems along with community-wide harm reduction and HIV prevention strategies, especially for younger persons. For older drug users, there may be a need for more intensive rehabilitation programs. Some evidence suggest that greater attention be given to the type of drug dependence when focusing programs.

Adolescent↗