Objective-To estimate the prevalence of HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) co-infection as well as current risk behaviors among HIV positive and negative injection drug users (IDUs) in Chennai, India. Methods

Prevention strategies for reducing suicidal behaviour among substance users need to be prioritized at the individual and the national level through effective design, policy and implementation.

Reducing sharing of injection equipment and unsafe tattooing through targeted and environmental interventions, increasing HIV risk perception, and promoting safer sex practices among IDUs and their sex partners are urgent program needs.

Background Injecting drug use has historically been the principal driver of the HIV epidemic in the Northeast states of India. However, recent data indicate growing numbers of people who inject drugs (PWID) in North and Central Indian cities. Methods We conducted face-to-face surveys among PWID in 7 Northeast and 8 North/Central Indian cities using respondent-driven sampling. We used a rapid HIV testing protocol to identify seropositive individuals and multi-assay algorithm to identify those with recent infection. We used multi-level regression models that incorporated sampling weights and had random intercepts for site to assess risk factors for prevalent and incident (recent) HIV infection. Results We surveyed 14,481 PWID from 15 Indian cities between January and December 2013. Participants reported high rates of needle/syringe sharing. The median (site range) estimated HIV prevalence and incidence were 18.1% (5.9, 44.9) and 2.9 per 100 person-years (0, 12.4), respectively. HIV prevalence was higher in Northeast sites while HIV incidence was higher in North/Central sites. The odds of prevalent HIV were over 3-fold higher in women than men. Other factors associated with HIV prevalence or incidence included duration since first injection, injection of pharmaceutical drugs, and needle/syringe sharing. Conclusions The burden of HIV infection is high among PWID in India, and may be increasing in cities where injecting drug use is emerging. Women who inject drugs were at substantially higher risk for HIV than men, a situation that may be mediated by dual injection-related and sexual risks.

We require that researchers complete a concept sheet for their proposed analyses, to be reviewed and approved by the study investigators. The study investigators will consider overlap of the proposed project with active or planned analyses and the appropriateness of study data for the proposed analysis.