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Pachuau LN, Tannous C, Chawngthu RL, Agho KE. HIV and its associated factors among people who inject drugs in Mizoram, Northeast India. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0286009. [PMID: 37216389 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To estimate the prevalence and associated factors with the human immune-deficiency virus (HIV) among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Mizoram, Northeast India. METHODS The data source for the analysis was the 2019-2020 Mizoram State AIDS Control Society (MSACS) survey from 2695 PWID registered for the Targeted Intervention (TI) services. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the factors associated with HIV among PWID after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, injection, and sexual behaviours. RESULTS 21.19% of the participants tested positive for HIV and the prevalence of HIV among male and female participants were 19.5% and 38.6%, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that female (AOR 1.74; 95% CI 1.26-2.41), 35 years or older (AOR 1.45; 95% CI 1.06-1.99), married (AOR 1.41; 95% CI1.08-1.83), divorced/separated/widowed (AOR 2.12; 95% CI 1.59-2.82) and sharing of needle/syringe (AOR 1.62; 95% CI 1.30-2.00) were all positively associated with HIV infection. We also found that concomitant alcohol use was reduced by 35% (AOR 0.65; 95% CI 0.51-0.82) among HIV positive PWID, and HIV infection was also reduced by 46% (AOR 0.54; 95% CI 0.44-0.67) among those PWID who use a condom with a regular partner. CONCLUSION The findings of this study suggested that there is a high prevalence of HIV among PWID with 1 in 5 PWID reported to have HIV. HIV among PWID was significantly higher among those over 35 years of age, females and divorced/separated/widowed participants. Needle/syringe sharing behaviour is an important determinant of HIV infection. The high prevalence of HIV among PWID population is multifactorial. To reduce HIV among PWID in Mizoram, interventions should target those sharing needles/syringes, females, especially those over 35 years of age and unmarried participants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Caterina Tannous
- School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Kingsley Emwinyore Agho
- School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
- Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, Australia
- African Vision Research Institute (AVRI), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Durban, South Africa
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Pachuau LN, Tannous C, Chawngthu RL, Agho KE. Changes in and Predictors of HIV among People Who Inject Drugs in Mizoram, Northeast India, from 2007 to 2021. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:ijerph20105871. [PMID: 37239596 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20105871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to examine the changes in and predictors of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Mizoram, Northeast India, over a period of 15 years (2007-2021). A sample of 14783 PWID was extracted from the Targeted Intervention (TI) services under the Mizoram State AIDS Control Society (MSACS). A chi-square test was used to compare the differences in HIV prevalence across the three 5-year periods, and a multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine predictors after adjusting for sociodemographic, injecting and sexual behaviours. The results showed that compared to 2007-2011, HIV prevalence was almost three times higher in 2012-2016 (AOR 2.35; 95% CI 2.07-2.66) and almost two times higher in 2017-2021 (AOR 1.41; 95% CI 1.24-1.59). The results suggest that participants who were females (AOR 2.35; 95% CI 2.07-2.66), married (AOR 1.13; 95% CI 1.00-1.27), separated/divorced/widowed (AOR 1.74; 95% CI 1.54-1.96), of middle school level education (AOR 1.24; 95% CI 1.06-1.44), sharing needles/syringes (AOR 1.78; 95% CI 1.61-1.98) and receiving a regular monthly income were positively associated with HIV infection. Condom use with a regular partner (AOR 0.77; 95% CI 0.70-0.85) was high among PWID. Despite targeted interventions under MSACS to reduce HIV in Mizoram, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS among PWID remained high between 2007 and 2021. Policymakers and stakeholders should tailor future interventions based on the factors identified in this study that are associated with HIV infection. Our findings highlight the importance of socio-cultural factors in HIV epidemiology among PWID in Mizoram.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy Ngaihbanglovi Pachuau
- School of Health Science, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown Campus, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
| | - Caterina Tannous
- School of Health Science, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown Campus, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
| | | | - Kingsley Emwinyore Agho
- School of Health Science, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown Campus, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
- Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), Western Sydney University, Campbelltown Campus, Penrith, NSW 2571, Australia
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein Campus, Johannesburg 2094, South Africa
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Sahu D, Ranjan V, Thakur N, Rai SK, Vardhana Rao MV. Assessment of effectiveness of targeted intervention program under national AIDS control program among injecting drug users across India. Indian J Public Health 2023; 67:247-253. [PMID: 37459020 DOI: 10.4103/ijph.ijph_818_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background High HIV prevalence among injecting drug users (IDUs) remains a cause of concern and are considered key drivers of concentrated epidemic in India. The present paper aims to assess the effectiveness of the targeted intervention (TI) program on the risk behaviors among IDUs across regions of India. Materials and Methods This paper used the data from the integrated biological and behavioral surveillance 2014-2015 among the IDUs in India. Descriptive statistics and propensity score matching analysis was carried out to understand the effectiveness of the TI program on the new needle/syringe used and needle/syringe shared in the last injecting episode by accounting for the covariates. Results The matched samples estimate, i.e., average treatment effect on treated of new needles/syringe used and shared in the last injecting episode by those who received needles/syringes from peer educator or outreach workers (PE/ORWs) and those who did not receive was 2.8% (confidence interval [CI]: 0.05-5.6) increase in the use of new needles/syringes and 6.5% (CI: -9.7--3.3) decrease in the needles/syringes shared in last injecting episode indicating that IDUs who received new needles/syringes from PE/ORWs are more likely to use new needle/syringe and less likely to share needle/syringes to those who did not receive needles/syringes. The results vary across the different regions of India. Conclusion TI program proves to be an effective initiative in the behavior change among IDUs as substantiated by use of new needles/syringes and decreased sharing of needles/syringes. TI program coverage varies from region to region and may further be expanded to accelerate the program services to prevent HIV/AIDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damodar Sahu
- Scientist F, ICMR-National Institute of Medical Statistics, New Delhi, India
| | - Varsha Ranjan
- Research Officer, ICMR-National Institute of Medical Statistics, New Delhi, India
| | - Nishakar Thakur
- PhD Scholar, Centre for Community Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Sanjay K Rai
- Professor, Centre for Community Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - M Vishnu Vardhana Rao
- Scientist G and Director, ICMR-National Institute of Medical Statistics, New Delhi, India
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Pachuau LN, Tannous C, Dhami MV, Agho KE. HIV among people who inject drugs in India: a systematic review. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:1529. [PMID: 35948967 PMCID: PMC9367073 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13922-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Little is known about the epidemiology of HIV infection among HIV positive people who inject drugs (PWID) in India. Injecting drug use has emerged as an important route of HIV transmission in India. The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review on the risk behaviours associated with HIV infection among HIV positive PWID and assess the data reported. Methods A systematic search of six electronic databases, Scopus, PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Embase and Ovid Medline was conducted. These databases were searched for published studies on injecting risk behaviours, sexual risk behaviours and socio-demographic factors associated with HIV infection among HIV positive PWID in India. Results A total of 15 studies were included in the review of which 3 studies evaluated HIV/HCV coinfection among HIV positive PWID. Older age, low educational level and employment status were significantly associated with HIV infection. Sharing of syringe and needle, frequency of injection, early initiation of injecting practice, inconsistent condom use and having multiple sexual partners were all commonly associated with HIV infection among HIV positive PWID. Conclusion Our study identified significant injecting and sexual risk behaviours among HIV positive PWID in India. There is an increasing HIV transmission among PWID in different states, more so in the northeastern states and in metropolitan cities in India. More studies need to be conducted in other regions of the country to understand the true burden of the disease. The lack of sufficient data among HIV positive female PWID does not preclude the possibility of a hidden epidemic among female PWID. The need of the hour is for the prevention of further transmission by this high-risk group through the provision of comprehensive programs, surveillance and robust continuation of harm reduction services. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-13922-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy Ngaihbanglovi Pachuau
- School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown Campus, Locked Bag 1797, NSW, DC1797, Penrith, Australia.
| | - Caterina Tannous
- School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown Campus, Locked Bag 1797, NSW, DC1797, Penrith, Australia
| | - Mansi Vijaybhai Dhami
- Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), Western Sydney University, Campbelltown Campus, Penrith, NSW, 2571, Australia.,Belmont Hospital, 16 Croudace Bay Road, Belmont, NSW, 2280, Australia
| | - Kingsley Emwinyore Agho
- School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown Campus, Locked Bag 1797, NSW, DC1797, Penrith, Australia.,Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), Western Sydney University, Campbelltown Campus, Penrith, NSW, 2571, Australia.,African Vision Research Institute (AVRI), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Durban, 3629, South Africa
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Quraishi R, Sarkar S, Parmar A, Jain R, Das BK, Ambekar A. Exploring the clinical variables among drug-dependent HIV-Positive patients: Implications for treatment strategies. Indian J Public Health 2022; 66:331-333. [PMID: 36149115 DOI: 10.4103/ijph.ijph_1317_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
This study explored the profile of HIV positive patients seeking treatment at a tertiary care addiction treatment facility. A retrospective study was done to collet detailed information on clinical characteristics: drug use (type, age of initiation, duration), general medical condition and past treatment history. The study included 138 patients with mean (SD) age 30.2 (8.3) years. Opioid dependence with injecting drug use (IDU) was diagnosed in 97% of the patients. The median age of injecting onset was 24.5 years (IQR 20-31 years). The most frequently injected substances were pheniramine (60.1%) and buprenorphine (59.4%). Past treatment seeking was reported by 57% patients and interestingly they were less likely to present any medical condition (2 =69.611, p < 0.001). Variability in the age of onset of drug use indicates the need for broad based approach to prevent IDU and motivation to seek treatment may lead to better health conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rizwana Quraishi
- Additional Professor, Department of Psychiatry, National Drug Dependence Treatment Center, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Siddharth Sarkar
- Additional Professor, Department of Psychiatry, National Drug Dependence Treatment Center, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Arpit Parmar
- Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Raka Jain
- Additional Professor, Department of Psychiatry, National Drug Dependence Treatment Center, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Bimal Kumar Das
- Professor, Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Atul Ambekar
- Additional Professor, Department of Psychiatry, National Drug Dependence Treatment Center, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
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Yin W, Panakadan S, Shwe YY, Peters K, Sharma M, Murphy E. Enhance harm reduction programmes in responding to the changing trend of drug use and HIV transmission in Asia and the pacific. AIDS 2021; 35:2229-2232. [PMID: 34602593 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000003011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wenyuan Yin
- Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
| | - Salil Panakadan
- Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
| | - Ye Yu Shwe
- Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
| | - Karen Peters
- Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Mukta Sharma
- Regional Office for South-east Asia, World Health Organization (WHO), New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Eamonn Murphy
- Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
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