Feasibility Of Providing Educational Counseling In Needle-Syringe Exchange Programs In Penang, Malaysia
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Date
2012-07
Authors
Shamandi, Zohreh
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
Providing education on health risks and treatment opportunities may enhance harm reduction effectiveness of Needle-Syringe Exchange Program (NSEP) and lead to more engagement for drug addiction treatment.
To evaluate the feasibility of providing an extended and structured Educational Counseling (EC) program to active drug injectors in the NSEPs , and to assess their EC participation, drug treatment enrollment and HIV risk behaviors.
In a purposive-opportunistic sampling, a total of 124 active heroin injectors participating in NSEPs were screened, 98 met the entry criteria and expressed interest to participate in weekly group Educational Counseling for 10 sessions, followed by 3 months of follow-up in monthly intervals. Participants were evaluated at baseline and month 6 using AIDS Risk Inventory (ARI). They received RM 10 for EC participation, RM 10 for each of the monthly assessments, and RM 5 for each urine sample.
Of the 98 participants recruited, 65 initiated the EC program, 47/98, 48% attended 3 or more, and 33/98, 33.7% attended 5 or more EC sessions. We observed significantly greater rates of drug treatment enrollment in those who participated in EC sessions, and decrease in some risk behaviors such as injection frequency and having intercourse with a steady sex partner among all study participants in general.
Two important barriers to participate in EC were fear of the police and termination of participation due to detention by the police. Barriers to join MMT program were long waiting list to enroll in the program and difficulty in getting transport.
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Keywords
Feasibility of providing educational counseling , in needle-syringe exchange programs