Haneefa T Saleem1, Samuel Likindikoki2, Bareng A S Nonyane3, Jessie Mbwambo4, Carl Latkin5. 1. Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Electronic address: haneefa.saleem@jhu.edu. 2. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65015, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Medicine, Muhmbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 3. Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. 4. Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Medicine, Muhmbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 5. Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 624 North Broadway Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Opioid overdose is preventable and reversible. To target overdose prevention training and naloxone distribution, it is important to understand characteristics of those people who use drugs most likely to witness an overdose. In this paper we report the proportion and characteristics of women who use heroin that have witnessed an opioid overdose in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey with 200 women who use heroin. We fitted unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models with witnessing an opioid overdose as the dependent variable and sociodemographic and drug use-related variables as independent variables. RESULTS: The majority of participants (85%) reported having ever witnessed an opioid overdose. Age (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 1.09; 95% CI: 1.02-1.12), having ever attempted to stop heroin use (aOR = 11.27; 95% CI: 2.25-56.46), history of arrest (aOR = 3.75; 95% CI: 1.32-10.63), and spending time daily in places where people use drugs (aOR = 3.72; 95% CI: 1.43-9.64) were found to be independently associated with ever witnessing an overdose. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest the need for expanded access to naloxone to lay people and community and peer-based overdose prevention training in Tanzania, including the distribution of naloxone in settings with high drug use.
BACKGROUND: Opioid overdose is preventable and reversible. To target overdose prevention training and naloxone distribution, it is important to understand characteristics of those people who use drugs most likely to witness an overdose. In this paper we report the proportion and characteristics of women who use heroin that have witnessed an opioid overdose in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey with 200 women who use heroin. We fitted unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models with witnessing an opioid overdose as the dependent variable and sociodemographic and drug use-related variables as independent variables. RESULTS: The majority of participants (85%) reported having ever witnessed an opioid overdose. Age (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 1.09; 95% CI: 1.02-1.12), having ever attempted to stop heroin use (aOR = 11.27; 95% CI: 2.25-56.46), history of arrest (aOR = 3.75; 95% CI: 1.32-10.63), and spending time daily in places where people use drugs (aOR = 3.72; 95% CI: 1.43-9.64) were found to be independently associated with ever witnessing an overdose. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest the need for expanded access to naloxone to lay people and community and peer-based overdose prevention training in Tanzania, including the distribution of naloxone in settings with high drug use.
Authors: Christopher Rowe; Glenn-Milo Santos; Eric Vittinghoff; Eliza Wheeler; Peter Davidson; Philip O Coffin Journal: J Urban Health Date: 2016-02 Impact factor: 3.671
Authors: Haneefa T Saleem; Samuel Likindikoki; Bareng A S Nonyane; Iddi Haruna Nkya; Leanne Zhang; Jessie Mbwambo; Carl Latkin Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2020-11-24 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: Julie G Salvador; Andrew L Sussman; Mikiko Y Takeda; William G Katzman; Monica Moya Balasch; Joanna G Katzman Journal: Harm Reduct J Date: 2020-05-13