Prevalence of skin problems and leg ulceration in a sample of young injecting drug users

Table 2 Summary of results

		Injected within the last 6 months ( n)	Percentage	Previously injected but not in the last 6 months ( n)	Percentage	Total ( n)	Percentage
All		127	64	73	36	200	100
Gender	Male	97	76	51	71	148	74
	Female	31	24	21	29	52	26
						200	Total
Age group (years)	20–24	7	5.5	4	5	11	5.5
	25–29	23	18	6	8	29	14.5
	30–34	39	31	11	15	50	25
	35–39	37	29	28	38	65	32.5
	40–44	21	16.5	24	33	45	22.5
						200	Total
Age when started injecting (years)	Under 16	21	16	14	19	35	17.5
	16–19	29	23	28	38	57	28.5
	20–24	38	30	17	23	55	27.5
	25–29	25	20	7	10	32	16
	30–34	10	8	7	10	17	8.5
	35–39	4	3	0	0	4	2
						200	Total
Length of injecting career (years)
	Less than 1	7	5.5	12	16	19	9.5
	1–5	32	25	15	21	47	23.5
	6–10	35	27.5	14	19	49	24.5
	11–20	35	28	24	33	59	29.5
	Over 20	18	14	8	11	26	13
						200	Total
Individuals reporting a skin problem		80	63	40	55	120	60
Type of skin problem	Leg ulcer	17	13	13	18	30	15
	Lumps	40	31	18	25	58	29
	Track marks	40	31	16	22	56	28
	Abscesses	58	46	32	44	90	45
	Acid burns	21	17	8	11	29	15
	Broken skin	15	12	10	14	25	13
	Chronic wound	17	13	11	15	28	14
	Rashes	2	2	1	1	3	2
	Other skin problems	6	5	5	7	11	6

Some individuals reported more than one skin problem so therefore percentages may add up to more than 100%. Percentages rounded up.

ISSN: 1477-7517