A neglected population: drug-using women and women's methods of HIV/STI prevention.
Women drug users are at extremely high risk of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) from sexual transmission, but remain seriously neglected in intervention research promoting women-initiated methods of HIV/STI prevention. Sparse available data indicate a high interest and enthusiasm for women-initiated methods among these women. Moreover, drug-using women may be in a position to capitalize most on the myriad advantages of women-initiated methods and be the least hindered by their disadvantages, as compared with other populations of at-risk women. These advantages include, for example, the potential for prior placement and use of a female condom without being noticed by a drunk or "high" partner, long-term and/or clandestine use of cervical barriers, and the "contraceptive justification" to partners or clients initially unwilling to accede to use of a female barrier. Targeted, community-based outreach and educational efforts to this extremely hard-to-reach group as well as expanded public funding for women's methods are urgent priorities.
Gollub
Erica L
EL
Visiting Professor of Epidemiology, Institut de Santé Publique, d'Epidémiologie et de Développement (ISPED), Université de Bordeaux II/INSERM U897, Bordeaux, France. elgollub@gmail.com
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D019111:Single-Use Internal Condom / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D011477:Sex Work; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000821:virology*; D016387:Women's Health
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D000998:Antiviral Agents