The association between experiencing discrimination and physical and mental health among PWID
Background: Discrimination can be a daily issue in the lives of people who inject drugs (PWID). However, the extent to which discrimination is related to the health of PWID remains unclear. Methods: Data focusing on discrimination against PWID and potential health correlates were collected as part o...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
Elsevier BV
2019
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/74299 |
| _version_ | 1848763235361095680 |
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| author | Couto e Cruz, C. Salom, C. Dietze, P. Burns, L. Alati, Rosa |
| author_facet | Couto e Cruz, C. Salom, C. Dietze, P. Burns, L. Alati, Rosa |
| author_sort | Couto e Cruz, C. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Background: Discrimination can be a daily issue in the lives of people who inject drugs (PWID). However, the extent to which discrimination is related to the health of PWID remains unclear. Methods: Data focusing on discrimination against PWID and potential health correlates were collected as part of the 2013 Illicit Drug Reporting System, a national survey with 887 PWID recruited in all Australian states and territories. Experience of discrimination, its setting, perceived reason and outcome, were self-reported by participants. The Kessler-10 scale and the mental component score of the Short Form 12-Item Health Survey were used to measure mental health. Physical health was assessed using the physical component score of the Short Form 12-Item Health Survey, specifically questions assessing injecting related problems and risk behaviour. Poisson and multinomial regression analyses were performed. Models were adjusted for socio-demographic and drug-related covariates. Findings: PWID reported experiencing discrimination in pharmacies, hospitals, government services and doctors/prescribers. The most commonly reported instances of discrimination were being refused service and experiencing abuse and/or violence. Experience of discrimination was associated with mental and physical health indicators. PWID who experienced discrimination were more likely to report high or very high mental distress (ARRR = 2.4, CI95 = 1.5–3.6) and mental health problems (ARRR = 1.4, CI95 = 1.2–1.7). The mental functioning (ARRR = 1.3, CI95 = 1.1–1.4) and physical functioning (ARRR = 1.1, CI95 = 1.1–1.4) of PWID, who experienced discrimination, were also more likely to be below Australian population mean scores. Conclusion: Self-reported experience of discrimination was associated with poor mental and physical health amongst PWID. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:00:14Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-74299 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:00:14Z |
| publishDate | 2019 |
| publisher | Elsevier BV |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-742992019-07-15T07:46:36Z The association between experiencing discrimination and physical and mental health among PWID Couto e Cruz, C. Salom, C. Dietze, P. Burns, L. Alati, Rosa Background: Discrimination can be a daily issue in the lives of people who inject drugs (PWID). However, the extent to which discrimination is related to the health of PWID remains unclear. Methods: Data focusing on discrimination against PWID and potential health correlates were collected as part of the 2013 Illicit Drug Reporting System, a national survey with 887 PWID recruited in all Australian states and territories. Experience of discrimination, its setting, perceived reason and outcome, were self-reported by participants. The Kessler-10 scale and the mental component score of the Short Form 12-Item Health Survey were used to measure mental health. Physical health was assessed using the physical component score of the Short Form 12-Item Health Survey, specifically questions assessing injecting related problems and risk behaviour. Poisson and multinomial regression analyses were performed. Models were adjusted for socio-demographic and drug-related covariates. Findings: PWID reported experiencing discrimination in pharmacies, hospitals, government services and doctors/prescribers. The most commonly reported instances of discrimination were being refused service and experiencing abuse and/or violence. Experience of discrimination was associated with mental and physical health indicators. PWID who experienced discrimination were more likely to report high or very high mental distress (ARRR = 2.4, CI95 = 1.5–3.6) and mental health problems (ARRR = 1.4, CI95 = 1.2–1.7). The mental functioning (ARRR = 1.3, CI95 = 1.1–1.4) and physical functioning (ARRR = 1.1, CI95 = 1.1–1.4) of PWID, who experienced discrimination, were also more likely to be below Australian population mean scores. Conclusion: Self-reported experience of discrimination was associated with poor mental and physical health amongst PWID. 2019 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/74299 10.1016/j.drugpo.2018.12.010 Elsevier BV restricted |
| spellingShingle | Couto e Cruz, C. Salom, C. Dietze, P. Burns, L. Alati, Rosa The association between experiencing discrimination and physical and mental health among PWID |
| title | The association between experiencing discrimination and physical and mental health among PWID |
| title_full | The association between experiencing discrimination and physical and mental health among PWID |
| title_fullStr | The association between experiencing discrimination and physical and mental health among PWID |
| title_full_unstemmed | The association between experiencing discrimination and physical and mental health among PWID |
| title_short | The association between experiencing discrimination and physical and mental health among PWID |
| title_sort | association between experiencing discrimination and physical and mental health among pwid |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/74299 |