Injecting-related injuries experienced by people who inject drugs in New Zealand: impact, healthcare access and stigma.

Abstract

Aim: People who inject drugs (PWID) are at risk of injecting-related injuries and diseases (IRIDs), but little is known about these in Aotearoa. We aimed to characterise the impact of IRIDs and explore barriers to accessing healthcare for PWID, using mixed methods.

Methods: A convenience sample was recruited at two South Island needle exchanges. Participants who were clients completed a survey (n=57) about drug use and experience of IRIDs, participated in a qualitative interview (n=7) about their experiences of IRIDs and healthcare access, or both. Staff (n=3) participated in a qualitative interview about supporting clients with IRIDs.

Results: A total of 91.3% of clients reported having any IRIDs and 40.4% reported more than 10 IRIDs. A total of 63.1% reported never seeking medical attention for an IRID. Twenty-five clients (44%) had experienced at least one severe IRID. A greater proportion of clients sought medical attention if they had experienced a severe IRID; however, 32% of clients who had experienced a severe IRID had never sought medical attention. Prevalent interview themes included stigma, discrimination, lack of social support and reliance on peer support.

Conclusions: IRIDs are a significant health risk in the Aotearoa injecting community and issues of stigma, discrimination and cost are significant barriers to healthcare.