Abstracts Vol. 1 [International Conference on AIDS (11th: 1996: Vancouver, Canada)]

Tu.C.2509 - Tu.C.2514

Tuesday July 9, 1996

27% with their primary partner, 8% with other partners, and 3% with both. Of the subjects
having unprotected sex with their- partners, only I reported that their partner was HIV+.
Of the remainder, 56% reported that their partner was HIV-, and 44% reported not knowing their partners serosttus Of the subjects having unprotected intercourse, 58% had a
genrit i STD.
Conclusions: The rates of unprotected intercourse, coupled with the high rates of genital
STD (which increise risk of HIV transmission), represent an importrt vector of new HIV
nfections among the sexual partners of HIV+ IDUs in southern France. Ir addition, the high
rate of receptive aniingus among a population that is 84% positive for hcp tits C represents a high risk of transmissi on for this as well. Intervention is clearly called for in this population.
Tracy J. Mayne, INSF RM Unit 379, Institut Paol-CalImettes, 232 bd Sainte Marguerite,
13273 Marselle, Fr ane.Telephone: [phone] / Fax: [phone]
ernail: rmaynelovelace.infob iogen.fr
Tu.C.2509
TEMPORAL CHANGES IN THE PREVALENCE OF HEPATOTROPIC VIRUSES AND
DRUG INJECTION PRACTICES IN GREEK PRISONS
Malliori M, Hatzakis Angeo*, Psichoglou M", Sips V*,Touloumi G*, Kokkevi A*,
Tissopoulos N *, Stefanis C'.'Dept. of Psychiatry;: Dept. of Hygiene and Epidemiology
Athens Univ. Media School;: Western Attica Hosp., Athens, Greece
Objective: 10 ex amine the temporal changes of IV drug use and the prevalence of heriat
ropa vruses like fHIV, HCV and HBV in Greek prisons.
Methods: A sampl e of 450 imprisoned IV drug users - 19I in 199 Iand 259 in 1995 - was
tested for anti HIV anti HCV and nt i-HBc by enzymermmunoassays. A questionnaire used
in WAHO stud ies on the prevalence and behavioural pattern of HIV infection in IV drug
user was administered.
Results: The prevalence of anti HIV,ant-HCV and anti HBc is shown in the table.

Pr evalence
1 n Arn i IV Anti HCV
991 0 5 84.0
1995 0.~ 82.0

Anti-HBc
62.0
650

Mularia analysis howed that the only determinant for anti- HCV was the duration of IV
drug use while for anti HBc tihe duration IV drug use and education. Detailed comparisons
of IV drug use pltterns between 1991 and 199) disclosed that at 1995 IV drug users
shared mo re often used needles but iat the si e time they presented an increased tendoncy to dsrfet the reedes by boiling or- chlorum use (55% vs 15%).
Conclusion: there was riot any change in the prevalence of hepatotropic viruses in imprsoned IV drug user between 1991 and 1995.The increased use of disinfection practces
may reflect the parrtial success of educational campaigns against AIDS.
A Hatzais, A rthens University Medical School, M. Asias 75 I1527, Athens, Greece,Tel.: (301)
7 19725, Fax: [phone] enmail; ahatzakoatlas.uoa.gr
Tu.C.2510
LOW RATES OF NEEDLE-SHARING IN DRUG USERS ATTENDING THE
METHADONE CLINICS
Cho MY, Lee SS, Mak YW, Chan War Man. Department of Health, Hong Kong.
Objectives: To study the pattern of high risk drug taking behaviours of clients of methadone
clinics in Hong Korng.
Methods: Opiate dup users attendng the methadone cinics for the first time, and those
re admitted after drop out period of more than 28 days, are interviewed by medical doctors. Inforraryit ionr concerning the drug-taking behaviaours are collected according to a standard questonn(ire at the iirre oaor ias part of a behavoural surveillance programme.
This tudy descrbe cthe changes of behav on ural pattern from 1990 to June 1995. Epi-nfo (v
6.02) and SAS (a 6.08) were used for data analyss.
Results: A total of 2572 questonnares were collected durn the study period, covering a
total of 18026 per sons.i Only the latest admis sio n of each individua i n a particula r year is
selected f analysi s of the drug takir ng behaviour in that year.Therefore, 24335 questionnaires had bo een snelected i, and 28.4% (6912) were I new admissions.The mean age of respondents has fallen from i39. yeirs i 1990 to 35.7 years n 1995. An overwhelming majsority
S(97.2-99.4%) had been takin her oin at the time of inter view.The proportion ofdrug njectors amion p the heroin usoers decreased fo raa 60.2% to 52. I%. A shift towards inhalatione
route (23.1 %to 37.3%) is not ed. Of the necting drug users, an creasng proporti on were
ausing disposa ble needles and syring es, and discarded both after use (67.2% to 8.2%). An
aver age of 21 d% hd cleaned either the neo edles or- syringes or both whoereas only p1.5% did
not clean their equipment at al Onlyl f I 2% of injecting drug users had been shaing needles or syrnoes durin the 4 weeks prior to the interview. However, an average of 8.6%
hd s hared needles s omenrme r in ter drug-ta king hristory, mostly (80%) during the inial
per od of drug ddicton.Airong the current needle sharers, the average frequency of sharnp is 7.9 times in a 4 week interv with a mean of 1.8 partners.The most commonly quoted reason for shir-n is convenence (67 85%), whereas 15% shared needles as a sign of
fraternit. After counselling, the majority (58.3-81.3%) of the current needle-sharers reported stoppngthe sharirg habit on the followup visit after 2 weeks.
Discussion and conclusion: Methadone clinics have been in operaton in Hong Kong since
1972. Needle-sharing rs not a common practice among the local injecting drug users who
had attended these clinics. Sharing usually occurs temporarily in the initial period of drug
addiction and is mostly for the sake of convenience.The methadone treatment programme
might have contributed towards a lower rate of high-risk drug taking behaviours in the local
setting.
Ch<rn Wai Man, Department of Health, 5/F.Yaumatei Jockey Club Clinic, 145 Battery Street,
Kowloon, Hong Kong.Tel: [phone], email: [email protected]
Tu.C.251 I
PREVALENCE OF HIV RELATED HIGH RISK BEHAVIOUR AMONG DRUG ABUSERS
IN A RE-SETTLEMENT COLONY IN DELHI.
Sharma Arun Kumar, Aggarwal 0 P Kumar N.D., Dubey K.K. Dept. Of Prev. & Social
Medicine, * Dept. Of Pathology, University College Of Medical Sciences, Delhi., India.

Objectives: I.To study high risk sexual behaviour of drug abusers and 2.To i id ntravenous drug abuse related high risk behaviour.
Methodology: Drug abusers are usually relunctant to participate in a study Henceetho
of contact tracing was used to identify them. A trained social worker interviewed the
respondents. Information was recorded in a structured, semi close type of profor na. Lini d
anonymous testing was done usin ELISA to diagnose HIV status.The high ri cIsk,eo1 of
IVDUs was compared to that of rlon-IVDUs using chi2 and t test.
Results: In all 70 male drug ifabusers' participated in the study Twenty per cent (1 I ther
reported intravenous drug abase One ifth of the drug users had single sex partn raid
20% of them had more than i 2 partners during last 5 years. Condoms was used regular i
by 5 and sometimes by 8 respondents. Condom was used les frequently by IVD),, U
compared to non IVDUs. Anal intercourse was practiced by 18 (25.71%) and or sex by
(10%). Partners for anal intercour s were eunuchs (3) and homosexual (8). Mi, -q pf
them (75.7%) visited commerial -ex workers. Prevalence of STDs Was 25.7%. Aver
number of sex partners was o ni cantly higher among those who sufferred from S D.
Sharing of syringes and needles without proper cleaning was practiced by 10I 1
IVDUs. No respondent was HIV positive.
Conclusions: High risk sex ual bef ihvour was reported by on pty of the reocI rrts.
Condom use and safe sex practices were negligible. Sharing of uncleanyrr nres id I def
was widely prevalent. Intervention must be caried out in order to - ha ge se>,,i ei-.
and promote safe sex practices
Arun Kumr Sharma,VI-H-17, Sector-V Rajendra Nagar Sahibabad. 0haz1i -" 0.
India.
Tu.C.2512
RISK ASSESSMENT STUDY WITH RESPECT TO HIV/AIDS AMONG ALCOHOLICS &
DRUG DEPENDENTS
Samson F, Sankaran, 5, Ganesh,V, Meloot, J, Mathews, G. Manoha,ir, S. Deepr ' I:., I -
Society for Health, Madras, India.
Objective: To assess the risk behaviour pattern of alcoholics and drug depende i i
respect to HIV / AIDS
Methods: Data were collected at the de-addiction centre, Institute of Menrtal Hoe',r
Madras in a span of five months. Patients who showed poorimotivation anrd -e,urer
ble to high risk behavious were interviewed. Majonty of them are fro m low(
family background.The total number of respondents intervoewed was 40 cove i -1al
holies and 6 IDU's.
Results: 67% of IDU's in the age group of 24-32 years share needles 50, 1r wre thit
sharing needles could lead to HIV infection.Though they ire aware of the serou,re,s of
the problem, their attitude is one of indifference.They faely bcleve that u t s i icure for
cancer is some times available, a cure for AIDS also will be d iscovered in the err future
Among alcoholic dependents, 74% were unaware about AIDS. Maot7 of thorn h ad
eduction only up to 5th to 8th grade 50% have had sex wo th non regulari pirler,, it of
which only 3% have used condoms.
Conclusion: The study reveals that the alcohol dependents and IDU s are prone to -i a I
behavious, that could lead to HIV infection.The indifferent attitude s a e1or hindr re i
atempting o behaviour change among IDU's.Therefore more researchI on groupr aiiour
patterns of IDU's is required to design an effective intervention programme.
SAMSON, F 3 De Monte Colony TTK Road, Alwarpet Madras 600 01 8, Inda el 9 1-44 499
5580 Fax [phone]
Tu.C.2513
EPIDEMIC OF HIV INFECTION AMONG IDUs IN MANIPUR STATE INDIA AND
INTERVENTION STRATEGIES
Sehgal Prem N, Mukhopadhyay A*, Kuber Singh:, Kapu S*. *Voluntary Health
Association of India, '*ManipurVoluntary Health Associaton
Issues: HIV infection/AIDS among DUs in Manipur oa north-eastern State of IndI.
Project: Manpur's population of 1.8 million is 0.2% of India's popu!aton butit h,,h1l corl
trbuted 18% of the total HIV +ve and 5.3% of reported AIDS cases in the,)unirr A
munity based KAB survey by key informant technique and snowballn was done.
Multipronged intervention strategies were initated during September 1991 1 ODec0 ber
1994, based on the KABP survey which showed that of the 498 dr u l ddi; t'r or'vewed,
87.3% were injecting heroin, 72.18% shared their njecting equipments, 63% I se p
vised syringes such as ink droppers etc.
Results: The risk reduction interventeons undertaken through the network ofoc NC
were: 57 public awareness campaigns, 28 educatonal workshops peer educton ind coun
selling for safe injecting practices, bleach use, promotion of condoms and advoca cyarainst
discrimination of IDUs/HIV +ve / AIDS persons.The detals of the pide o. po 1- r N s
and interventions along with colnstrant s wll be presented.
Lessons learned: For curbUng heroin trafficking froma the "ColdenTriangle" roint interr ind
intra country efforts by the Governme nts and NGOs of In dia nd Mpeanma ire needeId.
ibenral govern ment policy oen avsa labsr l t sying esod nendrs, i rag seI e onye
peolitical conditions.
R.N. Sehpa,Vom ntary Health Assnneate of di, 40, Insaten Area. Soalle 11Nev
Celhb-10016 India Phone:[phone] Fax: 00)1I 68.53/08
Tu.C.25 14
A MULTICENTER STUDY ON DEATHS AMONG INJECTING DRUG USERS.AIDS
HAS OVERTAKEN OVERDOSE AS THE PRINCIPAL CAUSE OF DEATH.
Mezzolyou Palo,Venturen L1. Quagluo GL1, Legebonr F'. GICSO* De (aans [I f3
1Instiute of Clinrca Medca O niversity ofhVerona, Itrly *Sc ntcr herceter
Colrbabortng drug users Group (GIGS) tIpy * Beth Isranl Mcd ca Cooler Nec Pork. Ni,
CSA
Objectives: To estimte the number of deaths, to evaluate rho possifle ciursoad thee
vanal trends among in noing drug users attendiop Coolers Io- Dr up Osors ndo an yrspe
thre slttshcal sugnifcance of these death s with specifho referenont Iaue, sex, pri o yadd
ti n, hurstion of treatment n Centers, and HIV soelepic stiles.
Methods: The study was conduoted in 26 Coolers for DiegO orser irte Venrto Rei-p
(Italy) from 1985 to I1994.The Annual Register of each Cooler th e Marn cp Reistin

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