Interventions with injection drug users in Ukraine.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness of a brief human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing and counseling intervention compared to a more time-consuming and expensive street-based intervention with injection drug users (IDUs).


METHODS
Cross-over experimental design in which 900 IDUs were recruited, followed by a 'wash-out' period with no recruitment, a reversal of intervention assignment areas and an additional recruitment of 900 IDUs with baseline and 6-month follow-up assessments.


METHODS
Kiev, Odessa and Makeevka/Donesk Ukraine.


METHODS
A total of 1798 IDUs.


METHODS
HIV testing and audio computer-assisted self-interview (ACASI) data on socio-demographics, drug use and injection and sex-related risk behaviors.


RESULTS
Participants in both conditions reduced their injection and sex risks significantly; however, there was little difference in outcomes between conditions. IDUs who knew they were HIV-infected at baseline were significantly more likely to practice safe sex than those unaware or HIV-negative; those who first learned that they were infected at baseline changed their safe sex practices significantly more than those who already knew that they were infected at baseline and those who were HIV-negative. Younger IDUs and those injecting for a shorter period of time reported higher injection and sex risk behaviors following interventions.


CONCLUSIONS
Awareness of HIV infection by street-recruited drug injectors is associated with reduced sex risks. Additional interventions are required for younger IDUs and those injecting for shorter periods of time.
Booth
Robert E
RE
Division of Substance Dependence, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, USA. robert.booth@ucdenver.edu
Lehman
Wayne E K
WE
Dvoryak
Sergey
S
Brewster
John T
JT
Sinitsyna
Larisa
L
D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016485:Needle Sharing / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014455:Ukraine / Q000453:epidemiology; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
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