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.
Division of Infectious Diseases, Hôpital Cantonal Universitaire, Geneva, Switzerland.
C F
CF
Robert
J J
JJ
Déglon
J
J
Wintsch
J L
JL
Martin
L
L
Perrin
M
M
Bourquin
V
V
Gabriel
B
B
Hirschel
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