Someone who attended the ICAAP has kindly given the [him] moderator a copy of the abstract book (23 mb!) from the recent ICAAP 9 in Bali. The abstracts are not on the ICAAP website. This week HIV Information for Myanmar [him] will be posting selected abstracts and papers from Myanmar.
Sentinel surveillance was at the core of this NAP paper. Have the differences in injecting behaviour been taken into account in designing harm reduction programmes for shooters in these sites? As more people start antiretroviral treatment, HIV prevalence will become less useful to inform programme implementers on the outcome of their efforts.
[him] moderator
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MoOA03-01 Wide Variation in Risk Behaviours among Injection Drug Users (IDU): Results from the 2007-2008 National Surveillance
Aye Myat Spe, Ar Zee, Myint Kyaw, Win Myint Thu, Myo Thant Khine, Virginia Loo
National AIDS Programme, Myanmar
Objectives :HIV infection among IDU ranges from 20-60% based on sentinel surveillance data. Implementers of prevention and drug treatment programmes observe different profiles of injectors at different sites. Understanding differences in injectors’ characteristics and risk practices will result in more tailored and effective designs for harm reduction programmes.
Methodology :NAP employed respondent driven sampling in probability-based behavioural surveys of male IDU in Yangon, Mandalay, Lashio, and Myitkyina. At each site, 225 IDU participated.
Results :More than 75% of injectors in Lashio injected heroin more than once a day, vs. 65% in Myitkyina, and 22% in Mandalay. In Yangon, more than half the sample injected <2-3 times in the past 6 months. Sharing at last injection ranged from 31% (Yangon) to 5% (Mandalay). In Myitkyina, 37% of respondents were 35 years. Most IDU reported injecting in homes, although more than 20% injected at street sites, parks, or latrines. In Mandalay, 87% injected at the dealer’s.
Conclusion :BSS can identify socio-demographic characteristics of IDU with the highest risk profile. Risk is multidimensional and dynamic and may not correspond to prevalence measures.
