Profile of risk factors for injecting drug use among the sample at high risk of HIV/AIDS in Kigali, Rwanda

Background The increasing prevalence of injection drug use (IDU) among populations at high risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has become a critical public health concern, particularly in Africa. This issue significantly exacerbates health-related effects among those at high risk of HIV/AIDS. Hence, our study aimed to scrutinize the associations between sociodemographic characteristics, alcohol and substance dependence, depression, and psychosocial behaviors among intravenous drug users within this high-risk HIV population. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study design with 480 respondents self-identifying as being at high risk of HIV/AIDS [males having sex with males (MSM), female sex workers (FSW), and injecting drug users (IDU)] living in Kigali, Rwanda, via snowball sampling. Chi-square bivariate analysis was used to explore factors associated with IDUs. Significant variables from these bivariable analyses were included in multivariate logistic regression models, in which odds ratios were used to determine the risk factors linked to IDU. Our study adhered to a 95% confidence interval and a 5% significance level to validate the statistical associations. Results Over 86.25% of the 480 respondents reported symptoms of depression, and 31.5% of the respondents identified as injection drug users (IDUs). Notably, 78% were male and fell within the age range of 18 to 45. The use of alcohol (wine, hard alcohol, or liquor), smoking cigarettes, marijuana, or heroin was significantly associated with IDU. Multiple regression analysis revealed that those with alcohol dependence [aOR = 3.547; 95% CI (1.59–10.857)] and marijuana use [aOR = 3.261; 95% CI (1.380–7.708)] were more likely to be IDUs than other risk group members (MSMs, FSWs). Furthermore, individuals with symptoms of depression [(aOR = 4.50; 95% CI (2.55–7.96), p = 0.018)] were more likely to be IDUs than their counterparts were. Conclusion The results of the present study indicated that substance and alcohol abuse behaviors, as well as mental health issues such as depression symptoms, were significantly associated with injecting drug use. The findings support the promotion of harm reduction prevention strategies that utilize mental health programs for this population at high risk for HIV.