Reducing HIV infection among new injecting drug users in the China-Vietnam Cross Border Project.
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.
Des Jarlais
Don C
DC
Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York 10038, USA. dcdesjarla@aol.com
Kling
Ryan
R
Hammett
Theodore M
TM
Ngu
Doan
D
Liu
Wei
W
Chen
Yi
Y
Binh
Kieu Thanh
KT
Friedmann
Patricia
P
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