Project dates: April 2000 - March 2013
Injection drug use plays an important role in the global HIV/AIDS epidemic. This study focused on HIV infection among injection drug users, but also addressed other problems of international importance, including other “emerging/re-emerging” infectious diseases (such as HCV), overdoses, and transitions between non-injecting drug users and injecting drug users. This study utilized rapid assessment and response (RAR) methodology developed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The RAR method uses a combination of qualitative data collection techniques commonly employed in social science and evaluation research to quickly depict the extent and nature of the given health problem, and propose locally relevant recommendations for improvement. Rapid implementation of HIV prevention programs for injection drug users are needed to address the problem of HIV transmission among IDUs in developing/transitional countries.
Additional Information on the WHO WebsiteHazardous drinking and HIV sexual risk behaviors among injection drug users in developing and transitional countries
AIDS and Behavior, 14 (4), 862-869. doi: 10.1007/s10461-008-9491-0.
Cleland CM, Des Jarlais DC, Perlis TE, Stimson G, Poznyak V (2007).
HIV risk behaviors among female IDUs in developing and transitional countries
BMC Public Health, 7, 271. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-7-271. PMCID: PMC2140060.
Stimson GV, Fitch C, Des Jarlais D, Poznyak V, Perlis T, Oppenheimer E, Rhodes T (2006).
Rapid assessment and response studies of injection drug use: Knowledge gain, capacity building, and intervention development in a multisite study
American Journal of Public Health, 96 (2), 288-295. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2003.035899. PMCID: PMC1470497.
Des Jarlais DC, Semaan S (2005).
Interventions to reduce the sexual risk behaviour of injecting drug users
International Journal of Drug Policy, 16 (Suppl 1), S58-S66. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2005.02.005.
Hacker MA, Friedman SR, Telles PR, Teixeira SL, Morgado MG, Bongertz V, Bastos FI (2005).
The role of “long-term” and “new” injectors in a declining HIV/AIDS epidemic in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Substance Use and Misuse, 40 (1), 99-123. doi: 10.1081/JA-200030511.