LIFETIME NEEDLE SHARING - A PREDICTIVE ANALYSIS

Through understanding predictors of needle sharing, it may be possible to design AIDS prevention interventions more effectively. Data were c ollected from a sample of 416 patients in two New York City methadone programs in 1990. Questions were asked about needle sharing and about a battery of predictors covering 11 psychosocial domains. Based on fac tor analysis, these were reduced to seven factors: criminal history, a ntisocial characteristics, social integration, severity of psychiatric problems, current drug involvement, physical health, and personality disorders. Bivariate analyses showed that criminal involvement, antiso cial characteristics, social integration, and age were significantly r elated to needle sharing. With the seven factors, as well as age, gend er, and ethnicity simultaneously examined by means of regression analy sis, it was found that criminal involvement, severity of psychiatric p roblems, and age were all positively associated with needle sharing. I mplications for treatment are discussed.