ResearchProjects

Estonia, a country in Northern Europe, has experienced an HIV epidemic among injecting drug users (IDUs). While there are several interventions that have been shown effective in reducing risk behavior among IDUs, no single intervention is effective for all IDUs. This project examined combinations of prevention programs to reduce injection and sexual risk behavior among injecting drug users. Understanding how to best combine HIV prevention programs will hopefully lead to increased rates of HIV testing, and the reduction of both injection and sexual risk behaviors.

Abstract on NIH RePORTER

Feelemyer J, Des Jarlais D, Arasteh K, Uuskula A (2015).
Adherence to antiretroviral medications among persons who inject drugs in transitional, low and middle income countries: An international systematic review
AIDS and Behavior, 19 (4), 575-583. doi: 10.1007/s10461-014-0928-3. PMCID: PMC4393761.

Meader N, Semaan S, Halton M, Bhatti H, Chan M, Llewellyn A, Des Jarlais DC (2013).
An international systematic review and meta-analysis of multisession psychosocial interventions Compared with educational or minimal interventions on the HIV sex risk behaviors of people who use drugs
AIDS and Behavior, 17 (6), 1963-1978. doi: 10.1007/s10461-012-0403-y.

Uuskula A, Des Jarlais DC, Raag M, Pinkerton SD, Feelemyer J (2015).
Combined prevention for persons who inject drugs in the HIV epidemic in a transitional country: The case of Tallinn, Estonia
AIDS Care, 27 (1), 105-111. doi: 10.1080/09540121.2014.940271. PMCID: PMC4221426.

Feelemyer J, Des Jarlais DC, Arasteh K, Phillips BW, Hagan H (2014).
Changes in quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF) and addiction severity index (ASI) among participants in opioid substitution treatment (OST) in low and middle income countries: An international systematic review
Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 134, 251-258. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2013.10.011. PMCID: PMC3880839.

Abdul-Quader AS, Feelemyer J, Modi S, Stein ES, Briceno A, Semaan S, Horvath T, Kennedy GE, Des Jarlais DC (2013).
Effectiveness of structural-level needle/syringe programs to reduce HCV and HIV infection among people who inject drugs: A systematic review
AIDS and Behavior, 17 (9), 2878-2892. doi: 10.1007/s10461-013-0593-y.

Des Jarlais DC (2013).
Systematic review research on needle/syringe programs and opiate substitution programs in low-and middle-income countries
Journal of Food and Drug Analysis, 21 (4), S59-S61. doi: 10.1016/j.jfda.2013.09.035. PMCID: PMC4176926.

Des Jarlais DC, Boltaev A, Feelemyer J, Bramson H, Arasteh K, Phillips BW, Hagan H (2013).
Gender disparities in HIV infection among persons who inject drugs in Central Asia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 132 (Suppl 1), S7-S12. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2013.06.028. PMCID: PMC3825744.

Des Jarlais DC, Feelemyer JP, Modi SN, Abdul-Quader A, Hagan H (2013).
High coverage needle/syringe programs for people who inject drugs in low and middle income countries: A systematic review
BMC Public Health, 13, 53. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-53. PMCID: PMC3567947.

Jordan AE, Masson CL, Mateu-Gelabert P, McKnight C, Pepper N, Bouche K, Guzman L, Kletter E, Seewald RM, Des Jarlais DC, Sorensen JL, Perlman DC (2013).
Perceptions of drug users regarding hepatitis C screening and care: A qualitative study
Harm Reduction Journal, 10, 10. doi: 10.1186/1477-7517-10-10. PMCID: PMC3695813.

Uuskula A, Rajaleid K, Talu A, Abel-Ollo K, Des Jarlais DC (2013).
A decline in the prevalence of injecting drug users in Estonia, 2005-2009
International Journal of Drug Policy, 24 (4), 312-318. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2012.11.002. PMCID: PMC3639300.

Vorobjov S, Des Jarlais DC, Abel-Ollo K, Talu A, Ruutel K, Uuskula A (2013).
Socio-demographic factors, health risks and harms associated with early initiation of injection among people who inject drugs in Tallinn, Estonia: Evidence from cross-sectional surveys
International Journal of Drug Policy, 24 (2), 150-155. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2012.08.003. PMCID: PMC3566328.

Des Jarlais DC, Cooper HLF, Bramson H, Deren S, Hatzakis A, Hagan H (2012).
Racial and ethnic disparities and implications for the prevention of HIV among persons who inject drugs
Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS, 7 (4), 354-361. doi: 10.1097/COH.0b013e328353d990.

Des Jarlais DC, Feelemyer JP, Modi SN, Arasteh K, Hagan H (2012).
Are females who inject drugs at higher risk for HIV infection than males who inject drugs: An international systematic review of high seroprevalence areas
Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 124 (1-2), 95-107. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2011.12.020. PMCID: PMC3353009.

Vorobjov S, Uuskula A, Des Jarlais DC, Abel-Ollo K, Talu A, Ruutel K (2012).
Multiple routes of drug administration and HIV risk among injecting drug users
Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 42 (4), 413-420. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2011.09.014. PMCID: PMC3289756.