Migrant injecting users: characteristics of Italian drug users living in Amsterdam.
The aim of the study was to compare the behavior of Italian injecting drug users (IDUs) in Amsterdam with Italian IDUs who moved abroad but returned with those who never moved. The Italian IDUs in Amsterdam showed a pattern of drug use very similar to the Dutch IDUs. They also reported a high prevalence of needle borrowing, needle lending, and HIV-1 infection. One out of three Italian IDUs in Amsterdam reported nondrug using occasional sexual partners, but condom use was always reported. This study shows that Italian IDUs in Amsterdam are a marginalized population with a high risk of HIV transmission.
Davoli
M
M
Epidemiology Unit Lazio Regional Health Authority, Rome, Italy.
Fennema
H
H
Perucci
C A
CA
Montiroli
P M
PM
van den Hoek
A
A
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016485:Needle Sharing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*