The context of HIV risk behaviours among HIV-positive injection drug users in Viet Nam: Moving toward effective harm reduction

This article analyses how global governance frameworks and knowledge claims are translated to fit local contexts. It specifically looks at harm reduction initiatives targeting injection drug users utilising the case of Tajikistan. In the 1990s, this post–Soviet Central Asian country became exposed to an inflow of cheap and easily available heroin from Afghanistan. While Tajikistan mainly became a transit country, some parts of the local population also became addicted. To tackle the negative consequences of heroin addiction, starting from the 1990s international donors proposed the country adopt a range of harm reduction measures, including providing access to opioid substitution therapy and establishing drop-in centres where single-use needles and syringes would be distributed. This article discusses how donor-promoted harm reduction initiatives were localised in Tajikistan, why and with what outcomes. It argues that instead of a full acceptance or rejection of knowledge promoted by international actors, a complex translation process can be observed on the ground. International norms are thus localised by taking into account societal attitudes towards injection drug users, the changing nature of legitimate expertise, evolving national legislation and everyday practices, against the background of other conflicting global governance regimes and local geopolitical priorities.

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Emergence of cocaine and methamphetamine injection among HIV-positive injection drug users in Northern and Western India

Drug and Alcohol Dependence ◽

10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2013.12.002 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 135 ◽

pp. 160-165 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Shruti H. Mehta ◽

Aylur K. Srikrishnan ◽

Eva Noble ◽

Canjeevaram K. Vasudevan ◽

Suniti Solomon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Injection Drug Users ◽

Drug Users ◽

Injection Drug ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Western India

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Correlates of Knowledge of HIV Transmission Among Incident Cases of HIV in a Cohort of Injection Drug Users Receiving Harm Reduction Services at Karachi, Pakistan

Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (JIAPAC) ◽

10.1177/2325957414535977 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 286-289 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rab Nawaz Samo ◽

Arshad Altaf ◽

Sharaf Ali Shah

Keyword(s):

Harm Reduction ◽

Injection Drug Users ◽

Drug Users ◽

Hiv Transmission ◽

Critical Role ◽

Unprotected Sex ◽

Injection Drug ◽

P Value ◽

High Risk Population ◽

Incident Cases

Background: Knowledge of risk factors for HIV transmission in high-risk population plays a critical role in averting the risk of HIV transmission. In Pakistan, injection drug users (IDUs) constitute the core risk group of HIV prevalence, where the epidemic has transitioned to a “concentrated level.” Still nothing is known about the role of knowledge in HIV transmission and HIV sero-conversion among IDUs in Pakistan. Methods: From 2009 to 2011, a nested case–control study was conducted in a cohort of 636 IDUs receiving harm reduction services in the mega city of Karachi. Results: In multivariable regression analysis, 3 factors, namely HIV does not spread through unprotected sex (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 3.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.39-6.90, P value .01), HIV does not transmit by sharing syringes (AOR: 3.5, 95% CI 1.97-6.40, P value <.00), and the risk of HIV cannot be minimized by using new syringe every time (AOR: 2.0, 95% CI 1.16-3.60, P value .01), were significantly associated with the incident cases of HIV. Conclusion: The study findings suggest the association between knowledge of HIV transmission and HIV sero-incident cases.

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