Scoping out the literature on mobile needle and syringe programs—review of service delivery and client characteristics, operation, utilization, referrals, and impact
Strike, Carol; Miskovic, Miroslav
Why this matters
Fixed and mobile syringe services may serve different populations, so the choice of delivery model can affect equity. A review of 39 studies found mobile programs attract people with higher-risk and higher-intensity injection practices who other service models often miss, while physical space limits confidentiality and the length of each interaction.
Abstract
Mobile NSPs are implemented in high-, medium-, and low-income countries; provide equipment distribution and many other harm reduction services; face limitations to service complement, confidentiality, and duration of interactions imposed by physical space; adapt to changes in locations and types of drug use; attract people who engage in high-risk/intensity injection behavior and who are often not reached by other service models; and may lead to reduced injection-related risks. This scoping review examined 39 manuscripts on mobile needle and syringe programs across service delivery characteristics, client demographics, utilization patterns, specialized interventions, service linkages, and impact on injection risk behaviors.