Behavioural changes in intravenous drug users in Geneva: rise and fall of HIV infection, 1980-1989.
In the early 1980s, more than 90% of intravenous drug users (IVDUs) shared needles and syringes in Geneva. The prevalence of antibodies to HIV in the sera of outpatient IVDUs increased from 6% in 1981 to 38% in 1983; it was, however, still only 37% in 1988. IVDUs starting methadone maintenance in 1987-1989 had a seroprevalence rate of 22%. In 1989 the percentage of IVDUs exchanging syringes and needles fell to only 5% of seropositive addicts. Only one seroconversion was observed in 1094 patient-months of observation in 1988-1989, which was probably due to sexual contact. The evidence suggests that, in the IDVUs studied, transmission of HIV has diminished since the early 1980s.
Robert
C F
CF
Division of Infectious Diseases, Hôpital Cantonal Universitaire, Geneva, Switzerland.
Déglon
J J
JJ
Wintsch
J
J
Martin
J L
JL
Perrin
L
L
Bourquin
M
M
Gabriel
V
V
Hirschel
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001519:Behavior; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors