| Objective To measure the prevalence of HIV-related risk behaviours among female drug users in Guangdong province, understand the sociocultural context of the risk-taking activities and explore the risk factors of HIV infection in order to develop appropriate gender-specific HIV intervention strategies among female drug users. Method Information is obtained by application of qualitative and quantitative method to measure HIV-related risk behaviors among female drug users in Guangdong Province and blood samples were collected and tested for HIV, HCV and syphilis. Risk factors of HIV infection were explored in a 1:1 matched case-control study with conditional Logistic regression model. Results1. We conducted in-depth interview with 26 female IDUs in three different settings. The results shows that most of women addicted to drugs lived in impoverished conditions with the breakdown of social support. They have limited choices in their struggle for survival and are driven into formal prostitution or informal exchanges of sexual favors for male protection, regardless the risk of HIV infection they may confront.2. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 337 female drug users, among them 82.79% were IDUs. 74.19% reported lifetime sharing needles, 45.16% reported sharing needles during the 30 days before interviewed. During one year before interviewed 46.28% reported having more than one sex partners, 63.75% had ever had a IDU sexual partner and 33.01% traded sex for money/drugs. In the past months 76.06% reported never using condom with their regular sexual partner, 36.23% reported consistent using condom in exchanges sex for money and 5.56% inexchanges sex for drugs. The HIV prevalence was 7.32% among female drug users sampled (n=287) and 9.09% among IDUs. The prevalence of HCV was 83.97% and of syphilis was 29.27%. Factors independently associated with ever exchanged sex for money/drugs during the past year in the Logistic regression analysis included:non Cantonese(OR=3.25; 95%CI=1.78,5.93),sexual debut age<18 (OR=2.52; 95%CI = 1.41,4.48),ever had a IDU sex partner in the past year(OR=2.92; 95%CI = 1.46,5.8l),ever experienced violence or abuse(OR=2.39; 95%CI= 1.12,5.09). 3. The results of conditional regression of Logistic model showed that have a regular HIV positive sexual partner(OR=28.05; 95 % CI=2.34,335.67), ever exchanged sex formoney/drugs(OR=5.89; 95%CI= 1.12,31.09), no fixed address(OR=10.77; 95% CI= 1.21,96.06)were significantly associated with an increased risk of HIV infection. Conclusion1. The epidemic of HIV/AIDS is still at an earlier stage among female drug users in Guangdong, but we can't be optimistic.The high rates of HIV-related risk behaviors and syphilis infection suggest a considerable risk for HIV transmissin in this population and from this "bridge" population to the general population, which should be attached enough importance to.2. High-risk sexual activity were more significant than drug-related risks for HIV infection among female IDUs in Guangdong Province.Future preventive intervention tailored to female IDUs should focus on the reduction of the heterosexual transmission risk in the context of drug using.3. Quantitative methods are excellent research tool to collect trend data,to identify risk behaviors and markers,and to develop predictor models for certain drug use patterns or risk behaviors. On the other hand,qualitative methods are relevant when seeking to understand the sociocultural context of risk-taking activities. Quantative and qualitative research paragidgms answer different questions but supplement each other.
|
PDF Full Text Request