title: people who inject drugs, HIV risk, and HIV testing uptake in sub-Saharan Africa.
abstract: Dramatic rises in injection drug use (IDU) in sub-Saharan Africa account for increasingly more infections in a region already overwhelmed by the HIV epidemic. There is no known estimate of the number of people who inject drugs (PWID) in the region, or the associated HIV prevalence in PWID. We reviewed literature with the goal of describing high-risk practices and exposures in PWID in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as current HIV prevention activities aimed at drug use. The literature search looked for articles related to HIV risk, injection drug users, stigma, and HIV testing in sub-Saharan Africa. This review found evidence demonstrating high rates of HIV in IDU populations in sub-Saharan Africa, high-risk behaviors of the populations, lack of knowledge regarding HIV, and low HIV testing uptake. There is an urgent need for action to address IDU in order to maintain recent decreases in the spread of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa.
authors.forename: Alice K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Asher
authors.forename: Judith A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: Marie-Claude
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Couture
authors.forename: Kelsey
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maher
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Page
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000453:epidemiology; D055030:Drug Users / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D015995:Prevalence; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology*