Background Injecting drug use is known to contribute significantly to the spread of the HIV epidemic in many parts of the developing world. Due to the hidden nature and stigma of the problem, it is difficult to study using routine surveys. Therefore, this study aims to estimate the number of people who inject drugs in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and to describe the epidemiological and social situation related to HIV among people who inject drugs. Methods The study used rapid assessment methods, followed by combined methods of estimating populations, using nomination and multiplier methods. The combined methods used two datasets: the first includes the proportion of people who use services within a year as a multiplier, and the second, a count of the list of people with a problem who used the specific service within a year as a benchmark. The rapid assessment incorporated different qualitative tools to elicit information related to injectable drugs, using existing data sources, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions. Results The study estimated a total of 4068; with 95% CI (3196, 5207) people who inject drugs (PWIDs) in Addis Ababa. The study found people who inject drugs were young in age, male, with a lower educational status, unmarried, and living in small clerical business. People who inject drugs and participated in the study were more likely to use additional substances like alcohol, khat, and cannabis. The most common form of injectable drug used was heroin, and most of the people who inject drugs reported sharing syringes and needles. A high proportion of study subjects also disclosed having positive test results for HIV, hepatitis B, and C. Conclusion The population size of people who inject drugs in Addis Ababa is high. Lack of service in harm reduction in the city has made PWIDs vulnerable and at higher risk for HIV/AIDs and hepatitis B and C. Therefore, responsible bodies must start implementing the essential harm reduction strategies given by the World Health Organization.

Background: - Injecting drug use contributes substantially to developing the HIV pandemic in many developing countries. Due to the hidden nature and stigma of the issue, it didn’t prove easy to investigate using regular surveys. Therefore, this research pursues to determine the magnitude of individuals who inject drugs in Hawassa and explain the epidemiological and social condition of HIV among people who inject drugs.Methods: - The study used rapid assessment methods and the combined method of estimating population, by nomination and multiplier methods, using two datasets. The first was the proportion of people who use service within a year as a multiplier. The second was a list of individuals with a condition who utilized a particular health service within a year as a benchmark. The rapid assessment included qualitative methods to extract information relevant to enumeration cites, selection of first seeds as data sources. The study made a simple description of the study subjects to yield socio-demographics and behaviours related to HIV and other health-related problems.Results: - The study estimated a total of estimated 688 (95% CI; 502, 991) people who inject drugs, with a prevalence of 266 per 100,000 people. The study found that people who inject drugs were more young age, male gender. They also lived in lower educational status, were unmarried, and living in small clerk businesses. People who inject drugs and have taken part in the study were more likely to use additional substances like alcohol, khat, and other hard substances like cannabis. The most common form of drug used was Cocaine (83.3%). Most of the PWIDs were sexually active with regular (50.3%) and casual partners (884.6%). They claimed to involve in risky sexual behavior. Conclusion and recommendation:- A significant number of people who inject drugs are available in Hawassa. Lack of assistance in harm reduction in the city has rendered PWIDs vulnerable and at greater risk for HIV/ AIDS. Therefore, the Ministry of Health and other relevant authorities have to start implementing the WHO’s nine key harm reduction measures provided by the World Health Organization.