std-hiv-aids-2017-posters-accepted-abstracts

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International Journal of HIV and AIDS research

International Conference on

Sexually Transmitted Diseases, AIDS and Parasitic Infections

Parasitology, Infectious Diseases, STDs and STIs

September 21-22, 2017 San Antonio, TX, USA

HIV knowledge, testing practice and behavior among female people who inject drugs in

Georgia

Maka Gogia, Guranda Jikia

and

Kh Kutateladze

Georgian Harm Reduction Network, Georgia

Introduction &Aim:

Needle sharing practice remains the main factor for spreading HIV (47.3%) among people

who inject drugs (PWIDs) in Georgia. In spite of 5 times increased coverage of female injection drug users

(IDUs) by Needle and Syringe Program (NSP) women IDUs remain hard to reach population. The objective of

this study was to analyze risky injection/sexual behavior of PWIDs/female IDUs who are the clients of NSP, if

there is a difference in behavior of male and female PWIDs.

Methods:

Consecutive sampling was used to recruit PWIDs during 5 months in 2015. The selection criteria

were: (1) Drug injection practice during last month; (2) Being a beneficiary of NSP program for more than 6

month; (3) Age more than 17 years. Sample size was 1032, among them females were 129 (12.5%). Structured

questionnaire of Risk Assessment Battery (RAB) was used to assess drug risk and sex risk items separately and

calculated RAB score.

Results:

Female IDUs reported not using drugs in a close environment. They inject drugs with more than 2

persons (mean 2.9, median 3, mode 2) and mostly do not share injectable equipment (94.9%). While 38% of

male PWIDs stated needle sharing practice at least once during last month, among them 43.8% shared with one

person and 56.1% with more than 2 persons (p<0.05). As referring to sexual practice, 15.97% female IDUs had

more than 2 sexual partners during the last 6 months with whom 22.7% use condoms regularly, 21.1% sometimes

and 32.3% always. It was meaningful to find that 10.08% of female study participants (2 times less than men)

never had an HIV test and 34.45% of them had HIV test a year ago. Female drug users revealed to have lack of

knowledge on HIV transmission, 56% stated wrong answers on HIV transmission risks. Total RAB scale score

for female PWID study participants was 0.26 (Range=0-1).

Conclusion:

The study results demonstrate that female IDUs practice risky behavior but their practice is less

risky than men IDUs. This refers to both sexual and injection behaviors. HIV testing rate is low among female

PWIDs and reasons behind this need further investigation. The findings of this study can be used to address the

risks female IDUs face, to modify program according to their needs, to develop and test new approaches for

attracting, retaining and increasing safe behaviors of female IDUs.