Sociocultural Factors on Syringe Sharing and HIV Risks

描述(申请人提供)：中国的艾滋病疫情被描述为一个开始搅动的沉睡的巨人。注射吸毒有 被确定为中国艾滋病毒/艾滋病传播的重要因素， 其中超过70%的累积病例是静脉注射毒品。到目前为止，关于 中国曾在吸毒人群中重点调查艾滋病病毒及相关健康风险 以及有效揭示许多关键问题程度的监控方法 令人担忧的行为。然而，到目前为止，只有有限的定性 中国地区静脉吸毒人群艾滋病风险的民族志评估。这一事实导致了 在评估实际的“地面”危险行为的狭窄基础上， 风险和风险促进的具体背景，风险扩散的途径，以及 社会、环境、结构和文化的确切性质 促进或抑制中国静脉吸毒人群危险行为的因素。建议数 试点研究试图发展一种对社会、文化、 以及环境因素对吸毒者共用注射器行为的影响， 中国。研究的具体目的如下：1)全面考察 各种因素(文化、社会、 环境、经济和知识)，可有助于分享 注射器和其他注射设备(如炊具、水)。2)了解 作为分享基础的社会文化信仰、意义和理解 在研究中，一般地和具体地参考注射设备 参与者。3)测试招募主动出诊的可行性 注射吸毒者通过：a)网络方法(雪球抽样)--检测样本1；b) 社区外展-测试样本2；4)利用研究结果开发 基于研究和文化知识的具体建议，以制定 一项更大规模的研究，重点是了解共用注射器的行为和艾滋病毒 中国地区静脉吸毒人群的预防工作。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The HIV epidemic in China has been described as a sleeping giant that is beginning to stir. Injection drug use has been identified as a significant factor in the spread of HIV/AIDS in China, which more than 70 percent of accumulative cases are IDUs. To date, research on HIV and related health risks among drug users in China has emphasized survey and surveillance methods that effectively reveal the extent of many key behaviors of concern. However, thus far there has been only limited qualitative and ethnographic assessment of HIV risk among IDUs in China. This fact results in a narrow base upon which to assess actual "on-the-ground" risk behaviors, specific contexts of risk and risk promotion, pathways of risk diffusion, and the precise nature of the social, environmental, structural and cultural factors that promote or retard risk behaviors among Chinese IDUs. The proposed pilot study attempts to develop a comparative examination of social, cultural, and environmental factors in syringe sharing behavior among IDUs in Guangdong, China. The specific aims of the study are as follows: 1) To examine the full range and relative importance of various factors (cultural, social, environmental, economic and knowledge) that may contribute to sharing of syringe and other injection equipment (e.g., cookers, water). 2) To understand sociocultural beliefs, meanings, and understandings that underlie sharing generally and with specific reference to injection equipment, among study participants. 3) To test the feasibility of recruiting active out-treatment IDUs through: a) network method (snow ball sampling) - testing sample 1; b) community outreach - testing sample 2; 4) To use study findings to develop specific research-based and culturally informed recommendations for developing a larger study focusing on understanding syringe sharing behaviors and HIV prevention among IDUs in China.