HIV infection associated with drug injecting in the newly independent states, eastern Europe: the social and economic context of epidemics.
OBJECTIVE
We review recent trends in HIV associated with injecting drug use (IDU) in the Newly Independent States (NIS) in eastern Europe, including Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan in central Asia. We aim to draw attention to the social and economic "risk environments" in which rapid HIV spread among IDUs has occurred.


METHODS
Findings draw on centrally registered HIV surveillance data, published research studies and assessment reports funded by international development agencies.


RESULTS
Since 1995, there is evidence of rapid HIV spread in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine, with estimates suggesting between 50% and 90% of new HIV infections among IDUs. At the same time, there have been rapid increases in the incidence of syphilis and declines in health and welfare status, including outbreaks of diphtheria, tuberculosis and cholera. Findings emphasize the potential influence of the social and economic context in creating the "risk environments" conducive to HIV and epidemic spread. Key factors include: rapid diffusions in IDU; population migration and mixing; economic transition and decline; increasing unemployment and impoverishment; the growth of informal economies; modes of drug production, distribution and consumption; declines in public health revenue and infrastructure; and political, ideological and cultural transition.


CONCLUSIONS
An understanding of the social and economic contexts mediating HIV spread is a prerequiste to identifying the environmental "pre-conditions" of epidemic outbreaks, and thus also, for predicting and preventing HIV transmission. The "risk environment" may influence the efficacy of individual and community-level HIV prevention and highlights the concomitant urgency for interventions targeting social and environmental change.
Rhodes
T
T
Department of Social Science and Medicine, Imperial College School of Medicine, University of London, UK. t.rhodes@ic.ac.uk
Ball
A
A
Stimson
G V
GV
Kobyshcha
Y
Y
Fitch
C
C
Pokrovsky
V
V
Bezruchenko-Novachuk
M
M
Burrows
D
D
Renton
A
A
Andrushchak
L
L
D005061:Europe, Eastern / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D012919:Social Behavior; D012931:Social Environment; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*