Risk factors for loss to follow-up of persons who inject drugs enrolled at syringe services programs in Kentucky

Syringe services programs (SSP) are an effective strategy to reduce blood-borne infections of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in persons who inject drugs (PWID). The objectives of this study were to determine the frequency and risk factors for loss to follow-up (LTFU)...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The International journal of drug policy 2021-09, Vol.95, p.103255-103255, Article 103255
Main Authors: Soria, Jaime, Johnson, Tisha, Collins, Jana, Corby-Lee, Greg, Thacker, James, White, Connie, Hoven, Ardis, Thornton, Alice
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Buprenorphine
Cohort analysis
Counties
Drug policy
Drug use
Drugs
Enrollments
Generalized linear models
Harm Reduction
Health initiatives
Health services
Hepatitis
Hepatitis C
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus
Linear analysis
Opioids
PWID
Race
Risk factors
Substance abuse treatment
Substance use disorder
Syringe services program
Tests
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Summary:Syringe services programs (SSP) are an effective strategy to reduce blood-borne infections of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in persons who inject drugs (PWID). The objectives of this study were to determine the frequency and risk factors for loss to follow-up (LTFU) in PWID enrolled at SSPs in Kentucky. A retrospective cohort study was conducted which included data of PWID enrolled at 32 SSP. Demographics, use of drugs, HIV testing, HCV testing, and medical services were analyzed. A generalized linear model (GLM), family binomial was used to determine risk factors for LTFU. The analysis included 5742 PWID. LTFU by year of enrollment was 287/770 (37.3%) in 2017, 796/1874 (42.5%) in 2018, and 1479/3,098 (47.7%) in 2019. LTFU was significantly associated with distance to SSP from home of more than five miles (RR 1.25; 95%CI 1.09–1.43; p = 0.002) and SSPs housed in rural counties (RR 1.22; 95%CI 1.06–1.40; p = 0.004), adjusted by age, sex, and race. The use of buprenorphine was associated with less risk of LTFU (RR 0.79, p = 0.034). The distance to an SSP from home and SSPs in rural counties were identified as risk factors for LTFU. Initiatives that bring health services closer to PWID homes and offer opioid use disorder treatment may improve repeated participation in SSPs.
ISSN:0955-3959
1873-4758
DOI:10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103255