Injecting drug users don't use condom, vulnerable to HIV

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INJECTING DRUG USERS DON'T USE CONDOM, VULNERABLE TO HIV

Condom use is infrequent in relationships between injecting drug users (IDU) and

their sexual partners, increasing the vulnerability of both to contracting HIV

and sexually-transmitted infections(STI).

study conducted on the sexual behaviour and prevalence of HIV and other STIs

among injecting drug users in Chennai by the Sahai Trust and the Population

Council of India showed that 85 per cent of IDUs never used condom with their

wives. Similarly, condom use was inconsistent in encounters with sex workers.

The sample study covered 226 couples: 226 IDUs and their wives (202) and regular

female sexual partners (24) in Central Chennai. Most men and women had heard of

HIV/AIDS but in-depth knowledge of HIV/STI-related symptoms was imited.

Only 40 per cent of the women were aware of the symptoms of STIs, compared to 88

per cent among men. Worse still, half of all injecting drug users and their

partners who were part of the study did not see the possibility of their

acquiring HIV, despite the existing high prevalence of HIV among IDUs, according

to M.Suresh Kumar of the SAHAI Trust.

Quoting from another study conducted between October 2002 and July 2003 among 25

IDUs, Dr.Suresh Kumar said women were at a high risk of acquiring HIV/STI from

their partners. Intervention needed to address access to correct information and

health care services and reach out to young drug users early in their addiction.

Inaugurating a dissemination workshop here recently, K.Deenabandu, project

director, Tamil Nadu AIDS Control Society, said though the State was known for

its pioneering work in AIDS prevention, knowledge of IDUs was minimal.

Though it was thought that injecting drug use was confined to Chennai and parts

of Tuticorin and Madurai, studies proved otherwise. " The problem is more widely

prevalent in Tamil Nadu than was imagined. There are at least 10,000 IDUs in

the State. " Sabine Flessenkaemper, programme head, Population Council of India,

said the organisation was keen on promoting research which would help to evolve

strategies for control of STIs and HIV.

" When the SAHAI Trust started the study, very little was known about the risk of

STI and HIV prevalance among drug users and their partners. " Suniti ,

director, YRG Care, said her organisation was trying to validate cheaper

monitoring techniques and study the incidence regularly. Mohan Gupte, director,

National Institute of Epidemiology, said the epidemic in India was 'evolving',

unlike as in Africa, where it had 'matured.' Also unlike as in the West, the

IDUs were not thrown out of home.

Source: The Hindu, April 1, 2004, Chennai Edition

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