Abstract
Heroin trafficking and consumption has increased steadily over the past decade in Tanzania, but limited information regarding HIV and drug use exists for the city of Mwanza. Our study investigates the epidemiology of drug use, and HIV risk behaviors among drug users in the northwestern city of Mwanza. Using a combination of targeted sampling and participant referral, we recruited 480 participants in Mwanza between June and August 2014. The sample was 92% male. Seventy-nine (16.4%) participants reported injecting heroin, while 434 (90.4%) reported smoking heroin. Unstable housing and cohabitation status were the only socioeconomic characteristics significantly associated with heroin injection. More than half of heroin injectors left syringes in common locations, and half reported sharing needles and syringes. Other risk behaviors such as lack of condom use during sex, and the use of illicit drugs during sex was widely reported as well. Among the study sample, there was poor awareness of health risks posed by needle/syringe sharing and drug use. Our results show that heroin use and HIV risk related behaviors are pressing problems that should not be ignored in Mwanza. Harm reduction programs are urgently needed in this population.
Highlights
The dual epidemic of HIV and substance use— heroin injection—is a growing public health problem in Tanzania
Several studies conducted in Eastern Europe[1], China[2], South East Asia[3] and Russia[4] have demonstrated that injection drug use is a key driver for the spread of HIV infections, including in Tanzania.[5,6,7]
While it is known that alcohol consumption is implicated in the spread of HIV/AIDS,[8] our results show that daily binge drinkers are significantly less likely to engage in heroin injection compared to those who do not binge drink at all
Summary
The dual epidemic of HIV and substance use— heroin injection—is a growing public health problem in Tanzania. Several studies conducted in Eastern Europe[1], China[2], South East Asia[3] and Russia[4] have demonstrated that injection drug use is a key driver for the spread of HIV infections, including in Tanzania.[5,6,7] Some people who inject drugs (PWID) engage in HIV risk-related behaviors, such as sharing syringes and other injection equipment, and having unprotected sex. The increase in the number of heroin users has fueled a rise in HIV infections among PWID in Tanzania.[12] While HIV prevalence in the country is estimated at 5.1%
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
