Background : Frequent reuse of syringes during medical injections is fuelling epidemics of human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus infections in many low- and middle-income countries including Pakistan. Aims : To explore specific factors related to syringe reuse during therapeutic injections. Methods : We randomly surveyed 319 healthcare providers from 2 socioeconomically diverse districts in Pakistan, along with 625 of their patients. Results : Providers see 12–25 patients per day, and provide 7–14 therapeutic injections or intravenous drips. Comparing daily stocks with injections provided, we estimated that 38% of providers (Rawalpindi: 14%, Tando Allah Yar: 44%) likely reuse syringes 2 or 3 times. Rural location and longer duration of practice predict a higher likelihood of reuse. Physicians and non-physicians were equally likely to reuse. Most patients were unaware when a syringe had been reused. Conclusions : High rate of syringe reuse is driven by high injection demand by patients, to which providers comply. Patients are generally unaware of the harm of injections with syringe reuse or that reuse happens. Our findings suggest that patient focused approaches may help reduce syringe reuse.
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机译：背景：在医疗注射期间频繁重复使用注射器是在包括巴基斯坦在内的许多低收入国家的人类免疫缺陷病毒和丙型肝炎病毒感染的流行病。目的：探讨治疗注射过程中的注射器重用有关的特定因素。方法：我们随机调查了来自巴基斯坦的2个社会经济地区的319个医疗保健提供者，以及625名患者。结果：供应商每天见12-25名患者，并提供7-14个治疗注射或静脉滴水。将每日股票与注射进行比较，我们估计38％的供应商（Rawalpindi：14％，Tando Allah Yar：44％）可能重用注射器2或3次。农村地点和更长的练习持续时间预测重用的较高可能性。医生和非医生同样可能重用。当注射器重复使用时，大多数患者都没有意识到。结论：患者对患者的高注重需求推动了高速注射器再利用率，提供者遵守。患者通常不知道注射注射器重用或再利用发生的危害。我们的研究结果表明，患者的聚焦方法可能有助于减少注射器再利用。
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