Assessment of unsafe injection practices and sexual behaviors among male injecting drug users in two urban cities of India using respondent driven sampling.
Designing interventions to reduce HIV transmission among injecting drug users (IDU) requires reliable estimates of risk behaviors. We present population-based estimates for unsafe injection practices and sexual risk behaviors among male IDUs recruited through respondent driven sampling in India (Delhi: 783; Imphal: 766). IDUs in Delhi, mostly street-based (68%), reported injecting pharmaceutical agents and a greater frequency of injections/day. IDUs in Imphal, mostly home-based (98%), used heroin/opioids and injected less frequently. Needle sharing was common (Delhi: 33%; Imphal: 43%). Sixty-five percent of IDUs in Delhi and 55% in Imphal were sexually active during the previous year. Multiple sexual partners were more frequent in Delhi (49% vs 21%); IDUs in Imphal reported more regular sex partners (82% vs 44%). Consistent condom use with regular partners was extremely low (Delhi: 8%; Imphal: 19%). HIV testing was infrequent (Delhi: 37%; Imphal: 49%). IDUs are a heterogeneous group with different prevention needs requiring need-based tailored prevention interventions.
Population Council, Delhi, India. asarna@popcouncil.org
Avina
A
Sarna
Waimar
W
Tun
Aruna
A
Bhattacharya
Dean
D
Lewis
Yumnam Shashikumar
YS
Singh
Louis
L
Apicella
D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D016485:Needle Sharing; D012309:Risk-Taking; D021841:Safe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*