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| An image from the presentation of William Zule, illustrating how syringe design can affect the amount of blood collected and transmitted when sharing needles. |
Approximately 30% of all HIV infections are in injecting drug users.
However, this population is often marginalised, stigmatised and criminalised. This can make prevention work
with IDUs much harder.
Delegates heard that needle-exchange programmes can significantly reduce the sharing of syringes and needles.
In Tajikistan,
this achieved a fall in new cases of hepatitis C and the stabilisation of HIV incidence. The
cost-effectiveness of needle-exchange programmes was emphasised.
Nevertheless, a Chinese study showed that it was often difficult to retain
drug users in methadone treatment programmes, often because of arrest.
Peer-support initiatives were found to have a positive effect on risk
behaviour in Vietnam and Thailand.
There was also hope that a new type of
syringe with less space for blood might help reduce the risk of transmission.
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