Chen H, Cheng F, Li JH; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).

Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. C11739.

WHO China Office/Chinese CDC, Beijing, China

Background: To understand the high risk behaviors and influencing factors among drug users, and bring the bridge between scientific evidence and effective interventions fitted the unique local situation. Methods: The qualitative interview method in SASHwas adopted to conduct in-depth interviews with 101 drug users from Yunnan and 100 drug users from Sichuan in 6 pilot sites that respectively represent large cities, medium sized cities and small cities from March 2001 to April 2002. In addition, structured interviews were conducted with 5 key informants in each pilot site from PSB at the municipal, county, district and community levels; and individual interviews were conducted with family members of 10 drug users in each pilot site. Results: 1. Most drug users in target areas took heroin; and a large proportion of them also used it in combination with other psychotropic substances and drugs. The drug use was more prevalent in large cities than in medium sized cities and small cities. 2. The number of IDUs was larger in Yunnan than in Sichuan. Syringe sharing was common among IDUs.but the rate of sharing needles varied in different sites. 3. IDUs in target areas mainly bought syringes from private clinics and pharmacies. 4. Many IDUs did not know how to correctly disinfect syringes. 5. Drug users in different sites were more or less engaged in unsafe sexual behaviors. A certain proportion of female drug users were involved in commercial sex. The rate of condom use was very low. 6. Social discrimination and stigma are one of the key factors that facilitate the post detox relapse, and also one of the important socio-cultural factors that hinder the promotion of harm reduction. Conclusion: The implementation of SASH for target populations can identify the direction and methods for development of specific interventions according to local situation, as well as the approaches and channels for accessing target populations. SASH can bridge research into intervention.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• China
• Female
• HIV Antibodies
• Interviews as Topic
• Needle Sharing
• Proteins
• Qualitative Research
• Sexual Behavior
• Substance Abuse, Intravenous
• Substance-Related Disorders

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0033196

UI: 102277410

From Meeting Abstracts