Mejia IE, Perez A; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 2002 Jul 7-12; 14: abstract no. ThPeE7871.
Coordinator, Bogota, Colombia
BACKGROUND: Colombia is now considered one of the most important producers of Opium by-products, given that some regions in Southeast Asia showed that internal production and traffic developed a local demand, the study aimed to identify factors that could be encouraging or discouraging the spread of injection, and factors that could be exacerbating or ameliorating the adverse health consequences among IDUs in Bogota. METHODS: The first stage of the study was designed according to the guidelines of the Rapid Assessment and Response Guide on Drug Injecting, developed by the CRDHB in London and WHO. Data were collected using multiple methods and multiple sources of information. The second stage that is in progress now and will be concluding in June (2002) includes sero-testing component (HIV and Hepatitis B/C) and a wider sample frame. RESULTS: Given the lack of injecting tradition, basic norms of safe injection are unknown, although sharing of needles/syringes is not common (due to risk perception), indirect sharing of paraphernalia is very common. Hygienic injection is rare and overdoses are highly prevalent among those who use heroin. Sexual risk behaviors are common and condom use is limited. Although sterile equipment is highly available there is an absence of policies and actions targeting IDUs, health risks, discouraging injection or preventing transitions to injecting. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to develop actions targeting at-risk populations (discouraging transitions and promoting less harmful drug use), to develop policies and strategies that promote creation, continuity and impact of interventions, to develop infrastructure to properly face a potential spread of IDU and opiate dependence. There is also a need to expand the current knowledge given that the lack of accurate information concerning IDU leads to ignore the real extent of the practice, undermining the options to include IDUs as priority in HIV/AIDS and drug use fields.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Asia, Southeastern
- Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic
- Colombia
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Hepatitis B
- London
- Risk-Taking
- Sexual Behavior
- Substance-Related Disorders
- Syringes
- methods
Other ID:
UI: 102253008
From Meeting Abstracts