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. 2012 Feb;47(3):244-53.
doi: 10.3109/10826084.2011.632465. Epub 2011 Dec 2.

Intraurban mobility and its potential impact on the spread of blood-borne infections among drug injectors in Tijuana, Mexico

Kimberly C Brouwer  1 , Remedios Lozada, John R Weeks, Carlos Magis-Rodríguez, Michelle Firestone, Steffanie A Strathdee
Affiliations

Intraurban mobility and its potential impact on the spread of blood-borne infections among drug injectors in Tijuana, Mexico

Kimberly C Brouwer et al. Subst Use Misuse. 2012 Feb.

Abstract

We explored intraurban mobility of Tijuana, Mexico, injection drug users (IDUs). In 2005, 222 IDUs underwent behavioral surveys and infectious disease testing. Participants resided in 58 neighborhoods, but regularly injected in 30. From logistic regression, "mobile" IDUs (injecting ≥3 km from their residence) were more likely to cross the Mexico/U.S. border, share needles, and get arrested for carrying syringes-but less likely to identify hepatitis as an injection risk. Mobile participants lived in neighborhoods with less drug activity, treatment centers, or migrants, but higher marriage and home ownership rates. Mobile IDUs should be targeted for outreach and further investigation. The study's limitations are noted.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Colonia (neighborhood) of residence (panel A) and most frequent injection site (panel B) of injection drug users in Tijuana, Mexico (n=221)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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