High Uptake of HIV Testing in a Cohort of Male Injection Drug Users in Delhi, India: Prevalence and Correlates of HIV Infection

Abstract

We report baseline findings from a longitudinal cohort study to examine HIV incidence, high-risk injection and sexual behaviors of 3,792 male injection drug users (IDUs) in Delhi. The majority (95.4%) accepted HIV testing; HIV prevalence was 21.9%. In multivariate analysis, belonging to states adjacent to Delhi (AOR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.07-1.52), earning INR 500-1,500 (AOR: 2.38; 95% CI: 1.43-3.96); duration of drug use 2-5years (AOR: 2.02; 95% CI: 1.09-3.73), 6-10years (AOR: 2.81; 95% CI: 1.55-5.11), ≥11years (AOR: 3.35; 95% CI: 1.84-6.11); prior HIV testing (AOR: 1.60; 95% CI: 1.35-1.91), self-reported risky-injection behavior (AOR: 1.60; 95% CI: 1.33-1.92), and utilization of harm-reduction services (AOR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.11-1.58) were positively associated with HIV infection. Alcohol use ≤2 times/week (AOR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.55-0.82) or ≥3 times/week (AOR: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.54-1.01), unit increase in age (AOR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.98-1.00), ≥7years of schooling (AOR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.66-1.02) and unsafe sex with any female partner (AOR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.55-0.86) were negatively associated with HIV infection. HIV prevalence remains high among male IDUs in Delhi. HIV prevention programs should include comprehensive package of services for IDUs.