Article ID: | iaor19982280 |
Country: | United States |
Volume: | 43 |
Issue: | 4 |
Start Page Number: | 558 |
End Page Number: | 569 |
Publication Date: | Jul 1995 |
Journal: | Operations Research |
Authors: | Kaplan Edward H. |
Keywords: | probability, statistics: general |
Needle exchange is an intervention for slowing HIV transmission among drug injectors. Most studies of needle exchange rely on changes in self-reported risky behaviours among program participants. This paper reports two models based on objectively observed operational data, such as needle distribution rates, client visit dates, needle circulation times, and the function of returned needles testing HIV positive. Application of the models to data from the New Haven needle exchange suggests that HIV transmission has been slowed significantly among program participants.