HIV Among Injection Drug Users and Their Intimate Partners in Almaty, Kazakhstan

Abstract

This paper examines prevalence rates of HIV, HCV, and syphilis among a sample of IDUs and their heterosexual intimate partners (N=728) from Almaty, Kazakhstan. The study uses baseline data from Project Renaissance, a couple-based HIV prevention intervention delivered to a couple where one or both partners are injecting drug users. HIV prevalence rates among female and male IDUs were 28%. Among the full sample, 75% had HCV, and 13% tested positive for the syphilis antibody test. Only 10% of the sample ever visited a needle exchange program. One fourth (25.3%) had never been tested for HIV. One-quarter of those who tested positive were unaware of their status. Being HIV positive was associated with a history of incarceration, being an IDU, and having access to needle exchange programs. The findings call for increasing efforts to improve access to HIV testing, prevention, treatment, and care for IDUs in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Masculinities and Social Contexts of HIV Risk Practices Among Central Asian Male Migrant Workers

“…These findings support earlier research findings showing men tend to use condoms with commercial sex partners, and use condoms less often with long-term partners [21][22][23]. Men used the notion of trust to justify their lack of condom use in marriage and with some outside partners, describing their wives as clean and trusting they would not put their husband at risks.…”

Tuberculosis report among injection drug users and their partners in Kazakhstan

“…5 Briefly, 728 individuals (364 couples, 75.36% of those screened) completed the 1.5-h baseline Audio Computer Assisted Self Interview (ACASI) in Russian and biological testing for HIV, hepatitis C (HCV), and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Participants were recruited into the study in Almaty City e by former drug user research assistants e from public injection locations and syringe exchange programs.…”

“…4 In the nation's largest city, Almaty, there were an estimated 17,000 IDUs in 2011 out of a population of 1,413,526. 5,6 Unsafe injection practices, 7 duration and other drug use, 3,8 and contextual environmental factors 9,10 have been shown to increase IDUs' negative health outcomes, specifically the risk of hepatitis B 11 and C 12 and HIV/AIDS. 13 Duration 3,14,15 and type of drug use, 8,15,16 age at first injection, 15 recent drug treatment, 17 exposure to TB cases, 18 incarceration, 3,19 food insecurity, 20 and co-infections (mental health disorders 16 and HIV/AIDS 17 ) among IDUs have been associated with an increase risk of incident TB.…”

HIV risks among injecting and non-injecting female partners of men who inject drugs in Almaty, Kazakhstan: Implications for HIV prevention, research, and policy

“…However, to date, no studies have examined the risk behaviors and characteristics of female sex partners of MWID in Kazakhstan or other countries in Central Asia. This paper addresses this gap in the literature by focusing on women who participated in Project Renaissance -- a couple-based HIV prevention study conducted in Kazakhstan, where one or both members of the dyad reported injection drug use (El-Bassel et al, 2013). Understanding how female partners of MWID engage in sexual, injection, and non-injection drug use risk behaviors with their primary partners and others is critical for stemming the recent increase in heterosexually-acquired HIV cases in the region.…”

“…Extensive research conducted globally shows that the prevalence of HCV is high among PWID (Beyrer et al, 2009; El-Bassel et al, 2013; Walsh & Maher, 2012, 2013). HIV and HCV are widespread co-occurring problems among PWID (Walsh & Maher, 2012, 2013).…”