Title:
HIV Infection Associated with the Initiation Period of Injecting Drug from a Risk Environment Perspective: A literature Review on Kyrgyzstan
Authors:
Kuipers, Petra
Year:
2014
PAGE:
viii, 40
Language:
En
Subject:
Governance & HIV and AIDS
Keywords:
Harm Reduction, HIV, Initiation, Kyrgyzstan, People Who Inject Drugs (PWID)
Abstract:
Background: Kyrgyzstan is one of the Central Asian Republics. Since independence from the Soviet Union, the economy has shrunk significantly. The country has introduced several health reform programmes. HIV prevalence is still increasing, with a concentrated epidemic among Persons Who Inject Drugs (PWID). Specifically the initiation period of injecting is identified as a period of increased risk for HIV transmission. Objective: This paper explores factors that facilitate the initiation of injecting drugs, HIV vulnerability once people started injecting and access to harm reduction services in Kyrgyzstan. Methods: The results are based on a literature review, and the conceptual framework of risk environment from Rhodes was used for analysis. Results: The location of the country, situated on a busy drug trafficking route from Afghanistan to the North, results in readily available drugs. The country is also accustomed to injecting as it is common to inject for medical reasons. Exposure to injecting and network dynamics are important factors for people to start injecting. Access to services is limited due to several reasons. Identified to be at a higher risk of initiation are young people, yet age disaggregated data is not available and there are no youth focused services in place. Prison settings are identified as an environment with increased risk for HIV transmission. Also migrant workers and sex workers play an influential role in the initiation period of injecting and the transmission of HIV. Interventions focusing on the prevention of initiation are limited. Internationally effective interventions are peer-based behaviour modification in combination with treatment based interventions. Conclusions: A combination of the identified environmental factors and the complex interaction between these factors, in combination with the internal motivation and the character of the person, influences the risk for initiation and the vulnerability to HIV of the individual person. Recommendations: Prioritize interventions that prevent initiation injecting drug use, improve access to harm reduction services and introduce a holistic approach towards children and youth at risk of initiation.
Organization:
KIT - Royal Tropical Institute
,
VU - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Institute:
KIT (Royal Tropical Institute)
Department:
Development, Policy and Practice
Country:
The Netherlands
Region:
Western Europe
Training:
Master in International Health (MIH)
Category:
Research
Right:
© 2014 Kuipers
Document type:
Thesis/dissertation
File:
v1bsw2gINU_20161026121430603.pdf