OBJECTIVES: To describe the reproductive health needs of women who inject drugs (WWID) and are participants in a syringe exchange program (SEP) in Hawaii. Our secondary objective was to develop and pilot services in response to those needs. METHODS: We conducted a reproductive health needs-assessment of women participating in the SEP. We also documented the perspectives and recommendations of key informants who work closely with women in this program. This needs-assessment informed a pilot contraceptive project at the SEP. RESULTS: We received surveys from 50 syringe exchange participants and hosted 1 focus group with 6 participants. We completed 8 key informant interviews. The majority of survey respondents indicated that they did not want to become pregnant in the next year, but most were not using a reliable method of contraception. Additionally, for most respondents, prevention of pregnancy was a lower priority than other health and wellness needs. Focus group participants and key informants emphasized the importance of developing a network of accessible providers to address reproductive health needs, and also the importance of using the principles of trauma-informed care when developing a service. We developed a pilot program to offer contraceptive injections at the syringe exchange program. In the first 6 months of offering the service, 1 participant elected to use the injection. CONCLUSIONS: WWID participating in this SEP may not prioritize their family planning needs when other health and safety needs are unmet. A pilot program to offer contraceptive injections at SEP had almost zero uptake.
OBJECTIVES: To describe the reproductive health needs of women who inject drugs (WWID) and are participants in a syringe exchange program (SEP) in Hawaii. Our secondary objective was to develop and pilot services in response to those needs. METHODS: We conducted a reproductive health needs-assessment of women participating in the SEP. We also documented the perspectives and recommendations of key informants who work closely with women in this program. This needs-assessment informed a pilot contraceptive project at the SEP. RESULTS: We received surveys from 50 syringe exchange participants and hosted 1 focus group with 6 participants. We completed 8 key informant interviews. The majority of survey respondents indicated that they did not want to become pregnant in the next year, but most were not using a reliable method of contraception. Additionally, for most respondents, prevention of pregnancy was a lower priority than other health and wellness needs. Focus group participants and key informants emphasized the importance of developing a network of accessible providers to address reproductive health needs, and also the importance of using the principles of trauma-informed care when developing a service. We developed a pilot program to offer contraceptive injections at the syringe exchange program. In the first 6 months of offering the service, 1 participant elected to use the injection. CONCLUSIONS: WWID participating in this SEP may not prioritize their family planning needs when other health and safety needs are unmet. A pilot program to offer contraceptive injections at SEP had almost zero uptake.
Authors: Emily A Hurley; Alex Duello; Sarah Finocchario-Kessler; Kathy Goggin; Stephani Stancil; Rachel P Winograd; Melissa K Miller Journal: Am J Health Promot Date: 2020-05-29
Authors: Orli K Florsheim; Dallas Augustine; Megan M Van Ligten; Heike Thiel de Bocanegra; Rachel Perry Journal: J Addict Med Date: 2021 Nov-Dec 01 Impact factor: 3.702