Australian Health Performance Framework: PI 1.2.6–Sharing of used needles/syringes, 2020

Collection and usage attributes

The proportion of people who inject drugs in contact with Needle-Syringe Programs who reported re-using someone else’s used needles/syringes in the last month.

100 × (Numerator ÷ Denominator)

The number of surveyed participants in contact with Needle- Syringe Programs, who report re-using someone else’s used needles or syringes in the last month.

The number of surveyed participants in contact with Needle-Syringe Programs who injected in the last month.

Nationally, by state/territory.

1. The Australian Needle Syringe Program Survey is a self-report survey conducted annually over a one to two-week period in October. All clients attending participating Needle and Syringe Programs are invited to complete a brief‚ anonymous questionnaire.
2. Estimates are calculated using data from annual reports. Trend data may not match previously published results.
3. The denominator is people who reported having injected in the last month; the numerator is people who reported having re-used someone else’s used needles and syringes in the last month. Percentages exclude those who reported having injected in the last month but did not report their needle/syringe sharing frequency.
4. The Australian Needle Syringe Program Survey report refers to re-use of someone else’s used needles and syringes as ‘receptive sharing’.

Representational attributes

N[NN].N

Indicator conceptual framework

Data source attributes

Accountability attributes

Clients of Needle and Syringe Programs are invited to complete an anonymous survey over a two-week period in October.

Annual reporting of survey results as a requirement of funding from the Australian Government Department of Health.

Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales

Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales

Survey response rate over recent years falls within the band of 41% to 48% of clients invited to participate.

Source and reference attributes

Heard S, Iversen J, Kwon JA, Maher L 2017. Needle and Syringe Program National Minimum Data Collection: National data report 2017. Sydney: Kirby Institute.

Heard, S; Iversen J; Geddes L & Maher, L. 2020. Australian NSP survey: Prevalence of HIV, HCV and injecting and sexual behaviour among NSP attendees, 25-year National Data Report 1995-2019. Sydney: The Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney.