Table 3 Prevalence and habits of IM injection
n | % | |
|---|---|---|
Lifetime prevalence of IM injection (n = 53) | 32 | 60.4 |
Female (n = 19) | 13 | 68.4 |
Male (n = 34) | 19 | 55.9 |
How did you learn about IM injection? (n = 32) | ||
Staff | 23 | 71.9 |
Friends/other patients | 9 | 28.1 |
Found out by myself | 4 | 12.5 |
Education | 1 | 3.1 |
Unknown | 1 | 3.1 |
Length of IM injection experience (n = 30) | ||
< 1 year | 17 | 56.7 |
1–5 years | 6 | 20.0 |
6–10 years | 6 | 20.0 |
11–15 years | 1 | 3.3 |
Current frequency of IM injecting (n = 32) | ||
Several times a day | 5 | 15.6 |
Once daily | 3 | 9.4 |
Several times a week (2–6x) | 3 | 9.4 |
Several times a month (2–3x) | 1 | 3.1 |
Rarely | 5 | 15.6 |
No longer at all | 15 | 46.9 |
Injection sites (n = 31) | ||
Upper leg | 19 | 61.3 |
Upper arm | 18 | 58.1 |
Lower leg | 3 | 19.4 |
Feet/hand | 2 | 6.5 |
Abdominal region | 1 | 3.2 |
Forearm | 1 | 3.2 |
Regular rotation of injection site (n = 31) | 24 | 77.4 |
Frequency of rotation (n = 23) | ||
Daily | 16 | 72.7 |
Weekly | 4 | 18.2 |
Rarely | 3 | 13.6 |
*Reasons for IM injection given by participants who had previously injected intramuscularly (n = 32) | ||
Bad condition of access veins/impossibility of intravenous injection | 25 | 78.1 |
Time saving (no need to locate veins) | 13 | 40.6 |
Less injuries (one prick instead of multiple intravenous attempts) | 10 | 31.3 |
Avoiding intravenous injection | 3 | 9.4 |
Longer-lasting effect compared to intravenous injection | 3 | 9.4 |
Less complications | 2 | 6.3 |
Higher level of functioning after injection | 2 | 6.3 |
Trying it out | 1 | 3.1 |
Physical illness | 1 | 3.1 |
Delayed onset | 1 | 3.1 |
Doing it out of habit | 0 | - |
Reduced risk of overdose | 0 | - |