Emmanuel Faran, Akhtar Saeed, Attarad Arrastus, Kamran Cyril
Department of Community Health Sciences, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 2004 Dec;35(4):940-8.
While the numbers of reported and estimated cases of HIV are still relatively low in Pakistan, behavioral patterns that could lead to an HIV epidemic are reported to exist among injection drug users. Therefore, this cross sectional study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of injection drug use and to assess the level of HIV knowledge and practices among male heroin addicts in Lahore, Pakistan. A total number of 660 male heroin addicts were recruited from 22 drug user sites in the city; data were collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Analysis revealed a poor knowledge of the disease, its modes of transmission and ways to limit transmission with only 30% of the respondents considering them at risk for acquiring the disease. A prevalence of 23.3% of injection drug use was noted. HIV risk injection practices included: group injecting (83.2%), sharing syringes (58.7%), and re-using used syringes (78%). Various risky sexual practices included multiple partners (24%), homosexuality (10.8%), sexual contacts with commercial sex workers (CSW) (20.8%), and with transvestites (3.3%). Condom use was low (11-50%). Of the subjects, 5.5% reported trading sex for drugs or money. We recommend HIV/STD prevention programs encompassing health education and health promotion strategies based on harm reduction techniques be used for drug users.
虽然巴基斯坦报告的和估计的艾滋病毒病例数量仍然相对较低，但据报道，注射吸毒者中存在可能导致艾滋病毒流行的行为模式。因此，开展了这项横断面研究，以估计注射吸毒的流行率，并评估巴基斯坦拉合尔男性海洛因成瘾者的艾滋病毒知识水平和行为。从该市22个吸毒场所招募了660名男性海洛因成瘾者；使用预先测试的结构化问卷收集数据。分析显示，对该疾病及其传播方式和限制传播方法的了解较差，只有30%的受访者认为自己有感染该疾病的风险。注射吸毒的流行率为23.3%。艾滋病毒风险注射行为包括：群体注射（83.2%）、共用注射器（58.7%）和重复使用用过的注射器（78%）。各种危险性行为包括多个性伴侣（24%）、同性恋（10.8%）、与商业性工作者（CSW）发生性接触（20.8%）以及与易装癖者发生性接触（3.3%）。避孕套使用率较低（11%-50%）。在这些受试者中，5.5%报告用性交易换取毒品或金钱。我们建议为吸毒者使用包含基于减少伤害技术的健康教育和健康促进策略的艾滋病毒/性传播感染预防项目。
