title: Reducing HIV infection among new injecting drug users in the China-Vietnam Cross Border Project.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess an HIV prevention programme for injecting drug users (IDU) in the crossborder area between China and Vietnam.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serial cross-sectional surveys (0, 6, 12, 18, 24 and 36 months) of community-recruited current IDU.
  
  
  METHODS
  The project included peer educator outreach and the large-scale distribution of sterile injection equipment. Serial cross-sectional surveys with HIV testing of community recruited IDU were conducted at baseline (before implementation) and 6, 12, 18, 24 and 36 months post-baseline. HIV prevalence and estimated HIV incidence among new injectors (individuals injecting drugs for < 3 years) in each survey wave were the primary outcome measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentages of new injectors among all subjects declined across each survey waves in both Ning Ming and Lang Son. HIV prevalence and estimated incidence fell by approximately half at the 24-month survey and by approximately three quarters at the 36-month survey in both areas (all P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The implementation of large-scale outreach and syringe access programmes was followed by substantial reductions in HIV infection among new injectors, with no evidence of any increase in individuals beginning to inject drugs. This project may serve as a model for large-scale HIV prevention programming for IDU in China, Vietnam, and other developing/transitional countries.
authors.affiliation: Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York 10038, USA. dcdesjarla@aol.com
authors.forename: Don C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Des Jarlais
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kling
authors.forename: Theodore M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Hammett
authors.forename: Doan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ngu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Kieu Thanh
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Binh
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Friedmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006078:Government Programs / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence / Q000639:trends; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007391:International Cooperation; D008297:Male; D018671:Needle-Exchange Programs / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010379:Peer Group; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013594:Syringes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution; D014744:Vietnam / Q000453:epidemiology