- Authors
- Sarna, A., W. Tun, A. Bhattacharya, V. Mahendra, N. Selhore, A. Singh and L. Apicella
- Title
- Injecting Drug Users in India: Understanding Sexual Behaviours and Sexual Networks to Design Effective Behaviour Change Strategies
- Description of Work
- Research Update
- Imprint
- Population Council, Delhi, April 2007, 4 pp
- Url
- http://www.aidsportal.org/repos/IndiaUpdate_DrugUsers.pdf
- Abstract
"The practice of injecting drug use has been spreading to different parts of India since the early 1980s. Associated with this spread has been an increase in HIV prevalence rates in injecting drug user (IDU) populations. IDUs engage in both risky injection and sexual practices that increase the risk for HIV transmission. While risky injection practices are well understood, there is limited understanding of IDUs' sexual behaviours and social networks. This information is extremely important as IDUs can act as a bridge for transmission of HIV infection to non-injecting and non-drug using partners. The Population Council conducted a study to explore patterns of risky sexual behaviours, sexual network characteristics, and drivers of high-risk behaviours of IDUs in Delhi and Imphal."