AEGiS-15IAC: Epidemiology and prevention of HIV among injecting drug users(IDUs).

15th International AIDS Conference


Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

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Epidemiology and prevention of HIV among injecting drug users(IDUs).

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. C10218)

Bajracharya R
Nepal Youth rehabilitation center, Kathmandu, Nepal

ISSUES: The drug taking habit occurred commonly at late adolescence. The injecting drug users were found to be switching to injecting habits (from non-injecting drugs) in a short period of time.

DESCRIPTION: Heroin was introduced in Nepal in mid-sixties and the mode of administration was mostly smoking or chasing. It remained so far a number of years till late eighties and the injection mode of use of drug has started in late 1980s. Buprenorphine a synthetic opiate like substance was introduced in this country as a very potent and non-addictive substance in 1990s. Since than drug abuse scenario has changed dramatically. It is produced in the form of sublingual tablets which dissolves very fast and also in the inject able form of 1 and 2 milliliters. Though it is used as an analgesic for many therapeutic purposes only, but it didn't remain for that purpose only, but it spread very fast among the heroin addict as their first drugs of choice. And it also spread among new addicts. Sharing of needles and drugs is widespread. Nearly two-thirds (41) of 63 are both syringe and drug with their group members. The specific sharing partners varied from day to day within the groups. In some cases go regularly to different groups to share drugs and injecting equipment. Lesson LearnedThere are many conditions for the rapid spread of HIV among IDUs but important conditions are: * Low level of appreciation of the risks associated with HIV/AIDS and injecting behavior * Frequent sharing of injecting equipment with multiple sharing partners. Recommendation: Services for the harm reduction for IDUs must be comprehensive, offering the range of option known to reduce the risk of HIV transmission and to improve the quality of life of the IDUs

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV, HIV Seropositivity, Substance Abuse, Intravenous, HIV Infections, Substance-Related Disorders, HIV-1, HIV Seroprevalence, HIV Antibodies, Behavior, Nepal, epidemiology, prevention & control, immunology, organization & administration

040711
C10218

Copyright © 2004 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.