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Open Access / OK to Reproduce
Peer Reviewed
Objective
This study evaluated factors associated with stigma related to injecting drug use (IDU) or HCV and those associated with being treated negatively by health workers.
Findings/Key points
IDU-related stigma was reported by 57% of participants and was associated with being a woman, higher than Year 10 education, homelessness, opioid agonist treatment, recent injecting, overdose history, hospitalisation for drug use, and unknown HCV status. HCV-related stigma was reported by 34% of participants diagnosed with HCV and was associated with being a woman, homelessness, receptive needle/syringe sharing, arrest for drug use/possession, and recent HCV testing. Negative treatment from health workers was reported by 45% of participants and was associated with being a woman, receptive needle/syringe sharing, hospitalisation for drug use, and arrest for drug use/possession.
Design/methods
ETHOS Engage is an observational cohort study of people who inject drugs attending drug treatment clinics and needle and syringe programs in Australia. Participants in this study (n=1,211) completed a questionnaire.