Abstract Book Vol. 2 [International Conference on AIDS (14th: 2002: Barcelona, Spain)]

XIV International AIDS Conference

Abstracts WeOrE1360-WePpE2110 195

edge. Chi-square tests were used to compare Afghan drug users vs. those of
other nationalities.
Results: Of 956 DUs, all were male and used heroin regularly. A total of 143
(14.9%) were Afghans; the rest were Pakistani (84.8%) or of other origin (0.3%).
Relative to other DUs, a higher proportion of Afghans reported no education (66%
vs. 51%, p<0.001). Compared to other DUs, Afghans were more likely to have
used an opiate as their first illicit drug (16% vs. 7%, p<0.001), to have ever injected (19% vs 12%, p=0.04), to report needle sharing (71% vs. 51%, p=0.08)
or report a family member as a DU (p=0.08). Among sexually active DUs, 0% of
Afghans had ever used a condom, vs. 5% among other DUs (p=0.01). Pakistanis
were more likely to report sex with CSWs (46.1% vs. 35.0%, p=0.01). Only 4% of
Afghans had ever heard of HIV/AIDS vs. 18% among other DUs (p<0.001).
Conclusions: These data show extremely low levels of HIV awareness and high
HIV risks among DUs in Quetta, among whom Afghans are especially vulnerable.
The fall of the Taliban regime offers a new opportunity to provide interventions to
Afghan DUs, an increasing proportion of whom are refugees living in Pakistan.
The relatively low proportion of injectors among heroin users in Quetta offers a
vital window of opportunity for interventions to prevent transition to injection, drug
treatment, and supportive services.
Presenting author: Steffanie Strathdee, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD,
21205, United States, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: sstrathd
@jhsph.edu
WeOrE1l360 Injected cocaine, free base and glue; harm
reduction programmes among marginal
argentinean population
S. Inchaurraga1, G. Hurtado2, M. Escudero3, N. Trincheri3, M. Rossi2,
M. Rossi2, S. Quevedo2. 1Argentinean Harm Reduction Association -
Asociacion de Reduccion de Danos de/a Argentina (ARDA), Juan Manuel de
Rosas 1058 - Rosario (2000) Argentina, Argentina; 2ARDA, Buenos Aires,
Argentina; 3ARDA, Rosario, Argentina
Issue: It is strong link between poverty in urban population areas known as shantytowns and growing of drug selling, distribution and use of drugs in Argentina.
Social and health harms related to drugs seems to be increasing, specially on
intravenous drug users (IDU) and disadvantaged populations. In this sector the
drug use commencement reported is at early ages, usually above or near 10
years old. 40% of all AIDS cases are related to IDU and HIV is spreading disproportionally in these populations with low access and culture of heath services
use.
Description: A Harm Reduction and HIV/AIDS Prevention Program for poor
neighborhoods and shantytowns of the main argentinean cities began on 2001
created by the Argentinean Harm Reduction Association (ARDA) with the involvement of the drug users Argentinean Network RADDUD and the support of
LUSIDA - National Ministry of Health. The program involves harm reduction interventions based on the target population codes and languaje; brochures about
safe use and safe sex, information on the drugs of major use in this areas and
delivering of injection kits for IDU. The program goal is to reduce drugs related
harms and risks related to combinations, unsafe use, lack of knowing about purity
and ways of using more safetly. Outreach is focused on "street language". Posters
and stickers are added to let them know local contacts of the area. The interventions have as key point the distribution of injection equipment with the message
of the Program "If you do it; do it well".
Lessons learned: The program has regional, national and local impact, being
adressed to the most disadvantaged groups. It shows the key role of interventions runed by a harm reduction organization and involving drug users
Recommendations: Evaluation, support expansion and continuity of the program and development of new material associated with poly drug use. Actually
another cities are planning their involvement in the program for the next phase
Presenting author: Silvia Inchaurraga, Juan Manuel de Rosas 1058 - Rosario
(2000) Argentina, Argentina, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], Email: [email protected]
WeOrE1361 A qualitative study on HIV risk among injecting
drug users in Vietnam: Reasons for sharing
syringes and needles
V. Dao Quant Vinh. National AIDS Standing Bureau of Vietnam (NASB),
National AIDS Standing Bureau of Vietnam (NASB), 41 Nguyen Dinh Chieu
Street, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi, Vietnam
Background: Now Vietnam estimates 185,000 DUs and reports 50,000 HIV
cases. 66% of the infected are IDUs. The HIV epidemic is associated with unsafe
drug injection, which is highlighted by 50% to 90% IDUs sharing syringes/needles
(SNs). Why do IDUs share SNs? No information is documented in the country.
This study is to find reasons for sharing. The continuing epidemic among IDUs
also highlights the importance of this study.

Methods: This qualitative study was conducted from Aug-Oct 2001. Theoretical perspectives and conceptual approaches in medical anthropology direct the
study while investigating and analyzing findings. Selected by the snowball method
from injection settings including a busy shooting area 30 IDUs are interviewed indepth with open-ended and unstructural questions, and 4 FGDs are conducted.
The study also conducts participant observations inside the shooting area. The
first two techniques are tape-recorded while detailed fieldnotes are taken soon af
ter the observation. Verbatim transcription is made when quotes are needed, and
data from careful notes of 34 cassette tapes are put into a data master sheet.
Results: Data from the in-depth interviewees (IDIs): mean age 30.6, 16/30 live
on the street, mean number of injection years 2.8 and mean number of daily injections 2.6. Data from the FGD participants: mean age 30.5, mean number of
injection years 4.2. All currently inject heroin. Pooling and sharing of SNs are
common: 9/30 IDIs share, 7/30 IDIs never share but give the drug leftover in
their "being-used" SNs to their peers, 21/24 IDIs see their peers sharing in many
places, especially in the shooting area. 3/30 IDIs do frontload unsafely.
Conclusions: There are five reasons for sharing SNs: there is a trust among
some special partners; IDUs either don't have or lack of money at the moment
they are truly craving of drugs; it is a drug use culture itself; there is a lack of SNs
availability/accessibility; IDUs misunderstand and misperceive HIV risk.
Presenting author: Vinh Dao Quang, National AIDS Standing Bureau of Vietnam (NASB), 41 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi, Vietnam, Tel.: +84 - 4 - 974 1573, Fax: +84 - 4 - 974 1572, E-mail: vinh233@yahoo.
com
WePpE2109 An evaluation of STD/HIV/AIDS and Sex education
Program in Nepalese Schools: Does Peer
Education Works?
Y. Timsina1, R. Bhadra 2, K.N. Subedi2, R. Gautam 2, K.P. Bista 2,
B. Pokheral2. 1BPMHF, BPMHF New Baneshwore, Kathmandu, GPO Box 9694,
Nepal; 2 Nepal
Objective: To determine impact of STD/HIV/AIDS and sexual health peer education activities among school/college students of Nepal.
Methods: The evaluation was done comparing results of final survey with baseline. The surveys were conducted employing random sampling with the help
of self-administered questionnaire. In baseline and final survey 792(7.4%) and
596(7.1 %) youth students of 14-22 years participated respectively.
Results: The higher level of knowledge further increased (88.9 to 93.8%) and
prevention z(42.4 to 94.3%) whereas misconception reduced (mosquito bite 26
to 16%). Knowledge about reproductive physiology increased moderately (e.g.
safe period 23-29%, sex determination 38 to 63%, organ where baby develops
72 to 89%). Regarding risk behavior, premarital sex (11 to 11.7), approval rate
(34 to 31%) and mean age of first sex (15.5 to 15.8%) did not show any major
change. Similarly, those who have seen condom increased from 72 to 86% and its
use increased from 86 to 90% while having sex and sex against their will changed
from 27.3 to 24%. Drug use (currently using) among college male changed from
overall- 37 to 25% and in injecting drug 10.4 to 0.8%. Student who considered
friends as main source of information in these issues changed from 44 to 65%
and 93.3% knew about peer educator.
Conclusions: The peer education has brought positive changes in all aspects
of knowledge, attitude, behavior and practice though changes are less dramatic
where baseline was high. Students have identified 'peer-educators' as most significant source of information and very high proportion of student knew about their
activity. It seems that peer education has significant influence among friends to
behave in 'safer' way and reduce drug abuse.
Presenting author: Yubaraj Timsina, BPMHF, New Baneshwore, Kathmandu,
GPO Box 9694, Nepal, Tel.: +977+1+422804, Fax: +977+1+422803, E-mail: [email protected]
WePpE2110 AIDS education for high school students in Tabriz:
Effects on knowledge, attitudes, and protective
behaviors
F. Abdollahzadeh, S. Moghaddasian, N. Ghorbanian. Faculty of Nursing &
Midwifery, Tabriz, Islamic Republic of Iran
Background: Both Iranian and international statistics suggest that HIV/AIDS
cases continue to rise in the adolescent population. Because of multi factor
causes, young people may be at a greater risk of exposure to HIV/AIDS. Educational programs may be an important step in impacting the current pandemic
nature of
HIV/AIDS. Purposes: Based upon a 3-month study of 250 school students studying in high schools of Tabrizlran, it investigates alterations in knowledge and
attitudes resulting from intense instruction on HIV/AIDS, AIDS patients, and preventive behaviors as a predictor of compliance with universal precautions.
Methods: A quasiexperimental research design was used. The convenience
sample consisted of 250 students(experimental: 150; control: 100), pursuing the
high school students of Tabriz, Iran. The questionnaire contained 80 items which
were divided into four scales. Researchers collected the data in two phases
(pretest and post-test).
Results: Following an educational program, the experimental group demonstrated a greater knowledge of HIV/AIDS than the control group who did not
participate in the educational program (P=.000). In addition experimental group

attitudes towards the disease and AIDS patients had become considerably more
liberal, as well as their disposition to comply with universal precautions, as compared to the control group (P=0.05).
Discussion: The present study has laid credence to the fact that educational intervention holds promise for the modification of HIV/AIDS - related knowledge and
attitudes and in fostering compliance with universal precautions amongst Iranian
students.