Factors associated with experiencing stigma, discrimination, and negative health care treatment among people who inject drugs

Original research
by
Broady, Timothy et al

Release Date

2024

Geography

Australia

Language of Resource

English

Full Text Available

Yes

Open Access / OK to Reproduce

Yes

Peer Reviewed

Yes

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. 

Keywords

About PWUD
Barriers and enablers
Housing
Injecting drugs
Sex/Gender
Stigma
Substitution/OAT