title: Change in attitudes and knowledge of problem drug use and harm reduction among a community cohort in Kabul, Afghanistan.
abstract: This pre-post evaluation aimed to measure changes in knowledge and attitudes towards drug users among community representatives in Kabul, Afghanistan, over a period of expansion of harm reduction and drug dependence programming. A convenience sample of 160 professionals aged 18+ years completed interview questionnaires in 2007 and 2009. Views endorsing programme quality and the provision of condoms, infection counselling/testing and needle/syringe distribution increased significantly over the 2-year period. In 13 of 38 statements, there was a substantial (> 10%) change in agreement level, most commonly among men and medical professionals. Attitudes concerning support of drug users remained largely positive, with substantial attitude changes in some subgroups of the population. Further community education through the media and a more cohesive government drug policy may be needed to strengthen community support for harm reduction/drug treatment in Afghanistan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Columbia University and Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Todd
authors.affiliation: Health Protection and Research Organization, Kabul, Afghanistan.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Stanekzai
authors.affiliation: Health Protection and Research Organization, Kabul, Afghanistan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nasir
authors.affiliation: Health Protection and Research Organization, Kabul, Afghanistan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fiekert
authors.affiliation: Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Orr
authors.affiliation: Centre for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, The New York Academy of Medicine, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Strathdee
authors.affiliation: Division of Global Public Health, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vlahov
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000346:Afghanistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D040261:Harm Reduction; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D036301:Qualitative Research; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires