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Comparative Study
. 2019 Mar;109(3):445-450.
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2018.304873. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

Estimating the Number of People Who Inject Drugs in A Rural County in Appalachia

Sean T Allen  1 , Allison O'Rourke  1 , Rebecca Hamilton White  1 , Kristin E Schneider  1 , Michael Kilkenny  1 , Susan G Sherman  1
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Estimating the Number of People Who Inject Drugs in A Rural County in Appalachia

Sean T Allen et al. Am J Public Health. 2019 Mar.

Abstract

Objectives: To demonstrate how we applied the capture-recapture method for population estimation directly in a rural Appalachian county (Cabell County, WV) to estimate the number of people who inject drugs (PWID).

Methods: We conducted 2 separate 2-week periods of data collection in June ("capture") and July ("recapture") 2018. We recruited PWID from a syringe services program and in community locations where PWID were known to congregate. Participants completed a survey that included measures related to sociodemographics, substance use, and HIV and hepatitis C virus prevention.

Results: In total, 797 surveys were completed; of these surveys, 49.6% (n = 395) reflected PWID who reported injection drug use in the past 6 months and Cabell County residence. We estimated that there were 1857 (95% confidence interval = 1147, 2567) PWID in Cabell County. Among these individuals, most reported being White (83.4%), younger than 40 years (70.9%), and male (59.5%). The majority reported injecting heroin (82.0%), methamphetamine (71.0%), and fentanyl (56.3%) in the past 6 months.

Conclusions: Capture-recapture methods can be applied in rural settings to estimate the size of PWID populations.

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