Women Drug Users and Partners of Male IDUs
Gaps in Research
- 1.
- Interventions are needed to provide individuals and couples with a better understanding of the risk of acquiring HIV through sexual practices as well as through injecting drug use.
- 2.
- HIV prevention information and services are needed for IDUs receiving treatment for substance abuse.
- 3.
- Interventions are needed to increase access to methadone and buprenorphine—effective substitution therapy for the treatment of drug dependence.
- 4.
- HIV prevention for IDUs must go beyond detoxification programs alone.
- 5.
- Interventions are needed to inform women IDUs of harm reduction early in pregnancy.
1. Interventions are needed to provide individuals and couples with a better understanding of the risk of acquiring HIV through sexual practices as well as through injecting drug use. (IOM, 2007). Studies found low rates of condom use despite sexual relationships with IDUs, lack of knowledge by IDUs on sexual and reproductive health and lack of access to clean needles.
Gap noted, for example, in Russia (Toussova et al., 2009); Taiwan (Chang, 2008); Vietnam (Nguyen and Scannapieco, 2008, Go et al., 2006); India (Haobam, 2008); Brazil (Oliveira, 2007); and generally (IOM, 2007).
Toussova, O., I. Shcherbakova, G. Volkova, L. Niccolai, R. Heimer and A. Kozlov. 2009. “Potential Bridges of Hetersexual Transmission from Drug Users to the General Population of St. Petersburg, Russia: Is it Easy to Be a Young Female?” Journal of Urban Health: Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine 86 (1): S121-S130.
2. HIV prevention information and services are needed for IDUs receiving treatment for substance use. Studies found few IDUs are given condom negotiation skills or results of their HIV tests.
Gap noted, for example, in Vietnam (Pham et al., 2008); and China (Cohen and Amon, 2008).
Pham, H., K. Hagen, C. del Rio, A. Chu, H. vu, T. Le, M. Kamb, H. Nguyen and M. Wolfe. 2008. “HIV Risk Behaviors and Barriers to HIV Service Access among Female Returnees from 05/06 Cnter in Hanoi, Vietnam.” Abstract THPE0327. XVII International AIDS Conference. Mexico City, Mexico. August 3-8.
3. Interventions are needed to increase access to methadone and buprenorphine—effective substitution therapy for the treatment of drug dependence. Studies found only tiny fractions of those who need maintenance medication had access.
Gap noted, for example, in Thailand, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, India and Nepal (Sharma et al., 2009); in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (Stuikyte et al., 2008); and generally (Piot et al., 2008, Mattick et al., 2003; Gowing et al., 2005 cited in IOM, 2007).
Sharma, M., E. Oppenheimer, T. Saidel, V. loo and R. Garg. 2009. “A Situation Update on HIV Epidemics among People Who Inject Drugs and National Responses in South-east Asia Region.” AIDS 23: 1405-1413.
4. HIV prevention for IDUs must go beyond detoxification programs alone. Studies found that women IDUs were not given reproductive health services, including PMTCT services, and had low levels of condom use. Detoxification programs were substandard and ineffective.
Gap noted, for example, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgystan, Russia and the Ukraine (OSI, 2009); China (Sullivan and Wu, 2007: 121, Lui et al., 2006: 119); and generally (Gowan et al., 2008).