Table 1

Frequencies of Responses to Questions on Needle Exchange
Item
 N
 %
Agencies currently offering needle exchange (n = 40 agencies)
 5
 12.5
Agencies that considered offering it
 12
 34
Considered it, but decided against it because (n = 21 respondents)

     Little/no perceived need/demand
 4
 19.0
     service already provided locally
 4
 19.0
     staff resistance
 1
 4.8
     anticipated community opposition
 3
 14.3
     Lack of funding
 2
 9.5
     presently being considered
 2
 9.5
     Don't know
 9
 42.9
     Other
 3
 14.3
In agencies not offering needle exchange (n = 59 respondents)

Intra-agency obstacles

     Little/no perceived need/demand
 12
 22.0
     Lack of medical staff
 5
 8.5
     Lack of funding
 7
 11.9
     service already provided locally
 6
 10.2
     staff resistance
 3
 5.1
     contravenes agency's policy/philosophy
 2
 3.4
     outside mandate/not a medical facility
 5
 8.5
     Lack of staff
 8
 13.6
     Don't know
 1
 1.7
     Other
 27
 45.8
     None
 8
 13.6



Extra-agency obstacles

     community resistance/opposition
 31
 52.5
     resistance/opposition from other agencies
 3
 5.1
     Lack of local political support
 3
 5.1
     funding
 2
 3.4
     it would be seen as a duplication of services
 1
 1.7
     May be seen as promoting drug use.
 12
 20.3
     Don't know
 2
 3.4
     Other
 6
 10.2
     None
 8
 13.6



Expected benefits of needle exchange

     None
 3
 5.1
     reduction in HIV/STDs
 35
 59.3
     might encourage IV drug users to seek counseling
 17
 28.8
     community safety
 7
 11.9
     greater accessibility/convenience for IV drug users
 7
 11.9
     fallows for greater openness about drug use
 3
 5.1
     Don't know
 3
 5.1
     Other
 25
 42.4
For agencies that offer needle exchange (n = 8)

Reasons for introducing it

     Reduce the spread of HIV/STDs
 4
 50.0
     urged to by AIDS committee/Ministry/other agencies
 1
 12.5
     funding was made available
 1
 12.5
     Other
 4
 50.0



Resistance encountered

     None
 5
 62.5
     From the staff
 1
 12.5
     From the Board
 1
 12.5
     From the general community
 4
 50.0



How was it dealt with?

     negotiation/conciliation
 1
 12.5
     through education/information
 1
 12.5
     Don't know
 1
 12.5
     Other
 1
 12.5

Hobden and Cunningham Harm Reduction Journal 2006 3:35   doi:10.1186/1477-7517-3-35

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