Enhance harm reduction programmes in responding to the changing trend of drug use and HIV transmission in Asia and the pacific

AIDS ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 35 (13) ◽  
pp. 2229-2232
Author(s):  
Wenyuan Yin ◽  
Salil Panakadan ◽  
Ye Yu Shwe ◽  
Karen Peters ◽  
Mukta Sharma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Changing Trend

scholarly journals Personas que se inyectan drogas en Hermosillo, Sonora. Metodología para su registro

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (67) ◽  
Author(s):  
Angélica Ospina-Escobar
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Population Size ◽  
Addiction Treatment ◽  
People Who Inject Drugs ◽  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Multiplier Methods ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Treatment Services ◽  
Mixed Approach

Resumen: conocer el tamaño de las poblaciones es fundamental para estimar universos de necesidad, planear intervenciones y evaluarlas. La estigmatización y criminalización del uso de drogas en México hace que las personas que se las inyectan sean difíciles de alcanzar, sin embargo tienen derecho a la salud, y el Estado está obligado a garantizarla, lo que incluye diseñar acciones efectivas para prevenir el sida. En Hermosillo, Sonora, el peso de la trasmisión del virus de inmunodeficiencia humana por drogas inyectadas ha ganado relevancia en la última década, no obstante, se desconoce el tamaño de la población que se inyecta drogas. En este artículo se describe detalladamente cómo se construye una aproximación mixta de metodologías cualitativas y cuantitativas para estimar el tamaño de dicha población en Hermosillo, y se ofrecen recomendaciones para mejorar los sistemas para registrarla en los servicios de tratamiento de adicciones, y cómo potenciar las intervenciones comunitarias de reducción de daños en la ciudad.Palabras clave: métodos multiplicadores; métodos mixtos; personas que se inyectan drogas; reducción de daños; Hermosillo.Abstract: having estimations of the size of populations is critical to estimate universes of need, plan and evaluate interventions. Stigmatization and criminalization of drug use in Mexico makes pwid constitute a hard-to-reach population; however, they have a right to health and it is an obligation of the State to guarantee it, which includes designing effective actions to prevent aids. In Hermosillo, Sonora, the weight of hiv transmission via injecting drug use has gained prominence in the last decade; nevertheless, there are no estimations of pwid population size. In this paper we describe in detail how to build a mixed approach combining qualitative and quantitative techniques to estimate the population size of pwid in Hermosillo. We present recommendations to improve pwid registration systems in addiction treatment services and how to improve community harm reduction interventions in the city.Key words: multiplier methods; mixed methods; people who inject drugs; harm reduction; Hermosillo.

scholarly journals High levels of used syringe use and unsafe sex among people who inject drugs in Kumasi, Ghana: an urgent call for a comprehensive harm reduction approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa J. Messersmith ◽  
Rose Adjei ◽  
Jennifer Beard ◽  
Angela R. Bazzi ◽  
Joel J. Earlywine ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Population Size ◽  
Sex Workers ◽  
People Who Inject Drugs ◽  
Syringe Sharing ◽  
Unsafe Sex ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Major Drug

Abstract Background Drug use is a growing concern in Ghana. People who inject drugs (PWID) are highly vulnerable to HIV and other infectious diseases. Ghana’s National Strategic Plan for HIV/AIDS 2016–2020 identifies PWID as a key population, but efforts to address the needs of PWID have lagged behind those targeting sex workers and men who have sex with men. Lack of information about PWID is a critical barrier to implementing effective HIV prevention and treatment. We aimed to learn more about the vulnerability of the PWID population in order to inform much-needed harm reduction interventions. Methods From April to July 2018, we conducted a mixed methods study in Kumasi, Ghana, to identify all major drug using locations, count the numbers of PWID to obtain rough population size estimations, and administer anonymous surveys to 221 PWID regarding drug use and sexual behavior. We also tested for HIV, HCV, and HBV from syringes used by survey participants. Results Key informants identified five major drug using locations and estimated the total PWID population size to be between 600 and 2000. Enumerators counted between 35 and 61 individuals present at each of the five bases. Sharing syringes and reusing discarded syringes are common practices. Over half of survey participants (59%) reported past-month syringe sharing (34% used a used syringe and 52% gave away a used syringe). Individuals with higher injection frequency (≥ 21 times weekly) and who injected with four or more people had higher odds of syringe sharing. Of the survey participants reporting sex in the last month (23%), most reported having one partner, but only 12% used condoms. Nearly all women (11/13) reported exchanging sex for drugs and 6/13 reported exchanging sex for money in the last six months. Fifteen percent of participants (all men) reported paying for sex using drugs or money. Of the used syringes, prevalence estimates were 3% (HIV), 2% (HCV), and 9% (HBV). Conclusions Our findings confirm the urgent need to implement harm reduction interventions targeting PWID and to build a strong and enabling legal and policy environment in Ghana to support these efforts.

scholarly journals Correlates of Knowledge of HIV Transmission Among Incident Cases of HIV in a Cohort of Injection Drug Users Receiving Harm Reduction Services at Karachi, Pakistan

2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 286-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rab Nawaz Samo ◽  
Arshad Altaf ◽  
Sharaf Ali Shah
Keyword(s):  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Injection Drug Users ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Unprotected Sex ◽  
Injection Drug ◽  
P Value ◽  
High Risk Population ◽  
Incident Cases

Background: Knowledge of risk factors for HIV transmission in high-risk population plays a critical role in averting the risk of HIV transmission. In Pakistan, injection drug users (IDUs) constitute the core risk group of HIV prevalence, where the epidemic has transitioned to a “concentrated level.” Still nothing is known about the role of knowledge in HIV transmission and HIV sero-conversion among IDUs in Pakistan. Methods: From 2009 to 2011, a nested case–control study was conducted in a cohort of 636 IDUs receiving harm reduction services in the mega city of Karachi. Results: In multivariable regression analysis, 3 factors, namely HIV does not spread through unprotected sex (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 3.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.39-6.90, P value .01), HIV does not transmit by sharing syringes (AOR: 3.5, 95% CI 1.97-6.40, P value <.00), and the risk of HIV cannot be minimized by using new syringe every time (AOR: 2.0, 95% CI 1.16-3.60, P value .01), were significantly associated with the incident cases of HIV. Conclusion: The study findings suggest the association between knowledge of HIV transmission and HIV sero-incident cases.

scholarly journals Improved ascertainment of modes of HIV transmission in Ukraine indicates importance of drug injecting and homosexual risk

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kostyantyn Dumchev ◽  
Marina Kornilova ◽  
Roksolana Kulchynska ◽  
Marianna Azarskova ◽  
Charles Vitek
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Significant Degree ◽  
Injecting Drug Use ◽  
Behavioral Risk ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mode Of Transmission ◽  
Homosexual Transmission

Abstract Background It is important to understand how HIV infection is transmitted in the population in order to guide prevention activities and properly allocate limited resources. In Ukraine and other countries where injecting drug use and homosexuality are stigmatized, the information about mode of transmission in case registration systems is often biased. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey in a random sample of patients registered at HIV clinics in seven regions of Ukraine in 2013-2015. The survey assessed behavioral risk factors and serological markers of viral hepatitis B and C. We analyzed the discrepancies between the registered mode of transmission and the survey data, and evaluated trends over three years. Results Of 2,285 participants, 1,032 (45.2%) were females. The proportion of new HIV cases likely caused by injecting drug use based on the survey data was 59.7% compared to 33.2% in official reporting, and proportion of cases likely acquired through homosexual transmission was 3.8% compared to 2.8%. We found a significant decrease from 63.2% to 57.5% in the proportion of injecting drug use-related cases and a steep increase from 2.5 to 5.2% in homosexual transmission over three years. Conclusions The study confirmed the significant degree of misclassification of HIV mode of transmission among registered cases. The role of injecting drug use in HIV transmission is gradually decreasing, but remains high. The proportion of cases related to homosexual transmission is relatively modest, but is rapidly increasing, especially in younger men. Improvements in ascertaining the risk factor information are essential to monitor the epidemic and to guide programmatic response.

Harm Reduction Policy for the Opioid Epidemic

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yngvild Olsen ◽  
Joshua M. Sharfstein
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
People Who Use Drugs ◽  
Opioid Epidemic ◽  
Negative Consequences

What is harm reduction? Harm reduction is “a set of practical strategies aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with drug use.” It is also “a movement for social justice built on a belief in, and respect for, the rights of people who use drugs.”...

High rates of early HCV reinfection after DAA treatment in people with recent drug use attended at mobile harm reduction units

2019 ◽  
Vol 72 ◽  
pp. 181-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Valencia ◽  
Alejandro Alvaro-Meca ◽  
Jesús Troya ◽  
Guillermo Cuevas ◽  
Jorge Gutiérrez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Harm Reduction

scholarly journals Harm reduction via online platforms for people who use drugs in Russia: a qualitative analysis of web outreach work

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arsen Davitadze ◽  
Peter Meylakhs ◽  
Aleksey Lakhov ◽  
Elizabeth J. King
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Injection Drug Use ◽  
Injection Drug ◽  
People Who Use Drugs ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Online Platforms ◽  
Outreach Work ◽  
Outreach Workers

Abstract Background Harm reduction services to people who use drugs (PWUD) in Russia are insufficient in terms of quantity, government endorsement, and accessibility. The situation has recently deteriorated even further because of social distancing measures of the COVID-19 pandemic. Several organizations have started to provide some harm reduction services via online platforms by web outreach. However, little is known on how online outreach services are organized and implemented. Drawing on the example of St. Petersburg-based NGO “Humanitarian Action,” we explored web outreach work in Telegram instant messenger. Methods Our data were comprised of 4 semi-structured interviews with the NGO staff and 301 cases of web outreach work with PWUD. We used thematic analysis to study the process of web outreach, harm reduction service provision, and needs of PWUD. Results Three stages of the process of web outreach work were identified: clients initiating communication, NGO workers addressing clients’ needs, and NGO workers receiving clients’ feedback. Communication proceeded in group chat or direct messages. Challenges in addressing clients’ needs happened when clients turned for help after hours, sent recorded voice messages, sent unclear messages, and/or were unwilling to transition to telephone communication. All web outreach workers reported receiving only positive feedback on their work. The needs of PWUD were categorized into two major themes, depending on whether they can be addressed fully or partially online. In cases of online only provision of services, web outreach workers helped PWUD treat minor injection drug use complications, obtain verified harm reduction information and receive general psychological support. In instances of partial online services provision, PWUD were assisted in getting treatment of severe injection drug use complications, overdoses, and in accessing offline medical, psychological, social, legal and harm reduction services. Conclusions Our research demonstrated that web outreach work is a convenient tool for delivering some harm reduction services to PWUD either partially or completely online and for recruiting new clients (including hard-to-reach PWUD that avoid attending brick-and-mortar facilities). Harm reduction organizations should consider incorporating online harm reduction services into their activities. However, further research is needed to explore relative advantages and disadvantages of online harm reduction services.

‘Keep an eye on your friends, even when you don’t know them’: Drug use and harm reduction in the Goa trance scene in Belgium

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 239-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tina Van Havere ◽  
Sébastien Tutenges ◽  
Jessica De Maeyer ◽  
Eric Broekaert ◽  
Wouter Vanderplasschen
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Harm Reduction
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