Category Archives: People who use drugs
Are needle and syringe programmes associated with a reduction in HIV transmission among people who inject drugs: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Needle and syringe programmes (NSP) aim to reduce the risk of HIV by providing people who inject drugs (PWID) with sterile injecting equipment. A recent review of reviews (ROR)...
Can hepatitis C virus prevalence be used as a measure of injection-related human immunodeficiency virus risk in populations of injecting drug users? An ecological analysis
BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) outbreaks occur among injecting drug users (IDUs), but where HIV is low insight is required into the future risk of increased transmission. The relationship between...
The effectiveness and safety of syringe vending machines as a component of needle syringe programmes in community settings
Syringe vending machines (SVMs) have been introduced in Europe and Australasia as part of the effort to increase the availability of sterile needles and syringes to injecting drug users (IDUs)....
A systematic review of antiretroviral adherence interventions for HIV-infected people who use drugs
HIV-infected persons who use drugs (PWUDs) are particularly vulnerable for suboptimal combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) adherence. A systematic review of interventions to improve cART adherence and virologic outcomes among HIV-infected...
The paradigm of universal access to HIV-treatment and human rights violation: How do we treat HIV-positive people who use drugs?
HIV-positive people who use drugs (PWUDs) are particularly vulnerable for suboptimal access to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). We conducted a systematic review to identify factors associated with suboptimal HAART...
What data are available on the extent of illicit drug use and dependence globally? Results of four systematic reviews
BACKGROUND: We systematically reviewed availability and quality of data on the prevalence of use and dependence on meth/amphetamine, cannabis, cocaine and opioids. METHODS: Multiple search strategies: (a) peer-reviewed literature searches...
Meta-analyses on behavioral interventions to reduce the risk of transmission of HIV
Different behavioral interventions have found to be efficacious in reducing high-risk sexual activity. Interventions have been evaluated in both original research and meta-analytic reviews. Most of the studies have shown...
HIV and sexual risk behaviors among recognized high-risk groups in Bangladesh: Need for a comprehensive prevention program
OBJECTIVE: To examine trends in HIV and related risk behaviors among recognized high-risk groups in Bangladesh, the types and extent of prevention initiatives that have been undertaken, and highlight the...
HIV and HCV prevalence among entrants to methadone maintenance treatment clinics in China: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background: Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) was implemented in China since 2004. It was initiated in 8 pilot clinics and subsequently expanded to 738 clinics by the end of 2011. Numerous...