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Socio-Demographic Correlates of Injection Drug Use Among Male Drug Users: A Cross Sectional Study in Nepal

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Abstract

Drug abuse is one of the major public health problems in Nepal. The objective of this study is to explore the factors responsible for the injecting drug use in Nepal. A cross sectional study was conducted among drug users in Pokhara sub metropolitan city in Nepal. Taking prevalence of 20 % at 95 % confidence interval and 20 % non-response rate, 448 samples were calculated for face to face interviews. Most of the study participants were >24 year’s age. Sixty-one percentage of the participants were unemployed. The largest percentage belonged to Gurung/Rai/Pun (37 %) ethnic groups, and had completed secondary level of education (47.5 %). In the logistic regression analysis occupation, motivating factors for drug use, ever been to custody, age at first drug use, age at first sex, money spent on drugs, ever been rehabilitated and age of the respondents showed a statistically significant association with injecting drug use status. The respondents having business [Adjusted Odds ratio (aOR) 4.506, 95 % CI (1.677–12.104)], service [aOR 2.698, 95 % CI (a1.146-6.355], having tragedy/turmoil [aOR 3.867, 95 % CI (1.596–9.367)], family problem [aOR 2.010, 95 % CI (2.010–53.496)], had sex at >19 years [aOR 1.683, 95 % CI (1.017–2.785)], rehabilitated >2 times [aOR 4.699, 95 % CI (1.401–15.763)], >24 years age group [aOR 1.741, 95 % CI (1.025–2.957)] had higher odds of having injecting habits. Having money spent on drugs >3,000 NRs (300 USD) [aOR 0.489, 95 %CI (0.274–0.870), not been to custody (aOR 0.330, 95 %CI (0.203–0.537)] and having curiosity for drug use [aOR 0.147, 95 % CI (0.029–0.737)] were found to be protective for injecting drug use. This study recommends the harm reduction program specifically focused on drug users of occupational groups like business, service and the youths through public health actions to stop transiting them to injecting drug use.

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Acknowledgments

We are deeply indebted to all participants of this research, the community mobilisers and outreach educators of Naulo Ghumti. Also I would like to especially thank Mr. Amit Dhungel, Dr Laxmi Bilas Acharya, Mr. Mahesh Shrestha and Mr. Dipak Karki.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Medicine, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, P.O. Box 1524, Kathmandu, Nepal

    Sanjeev Raj Neupane, Shiva Raj Mishra, Samaj Adhikari & Amod Kumar Poudyal

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  1. Sanjeev Raj Neupane
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  2. Shiva Raj Mishra
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  3. Samaj Adhikari
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  4. Amod Kumar Poudyal
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Correspondence to Shiva Raj Mishra.

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Neupane, S.R., Mishra, S.R., Adhikari, S. et al. Socio-Demographic Correlates of Injection Drug Use Among Male Drug Users: A Cross Sectional Study in Nepal. J Community Health 39, 1124–1132 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-014-9867-1

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