Abstract

BackgroundThe HIV prevalence among injecting drug users (IDUs) in Indonesia reached 50% in 2005. While drug use remains illegal in Indonesia, a needle and syringe program (NSP) was implemented in 2006.MethodsIn 2007, an integrated behavioural and biological surveillance survey was conducted among IDUs in six cities. IDUs were selected via time-location sampling and respondent-driven sampling. A questionnaire was administered face-to-face. IDUs from four cities were tested for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia. Factors associated with HIV were assessed using generalized estimating equations. Risk for sexual transmission of HIV was assessed among HIV-positive IDUs.ResultsAmong 1,404 IDUs, 70% were daily injectors and 31% reported sharing needles in the past week. Most (76%) IDUs received injecting equipment from NSP in the prior week; 26% always carried a needle and those who didn’t, feared police arrest. STI prevalence was low (8%). HIV prevalence was 52%; 27% among IDUs injecting less than 1 year, 35% among those injecting for 1–3 years compared to 61% in long term injectors (p < 0.001). IDUs injecting for less than 3 years were more likely to have used clean needles in the past week compared to long term injectors (p < 0.001). HIV-positive status was associated with duration of injecting, ever been imprisoned and injecting in public parks. Among HIV-infected IDUs, consistent condom use last week with steady, casual and commercial sex partners was reported by 13%, 24% and 32%, respectively.ConclusionsAlthough NSP uptake has possibly reduced HIV transmission among injectors with shorter injection history, the prevalence of HIV among IDUs in Indonesia remains unacceptably high. Condom use is insufficient, which advocates for strengthening prevention of sexual transmission alongside harm reduction programs.

Highlights

  • The HIV prevalence among injecting drug users (IDUs) in Indonesia reached 50% in 2005

  • In 2006, the Ministry of Health (MOH) estimated that the 220,000 IDUs living in Indonesia contributed for 63% of all HIV infections, including 55% acquired through injecting and 8% sexually transmitted by infected IDUs [8]

  • This paper provides behavioural and biological data about IDUs in Indonesia and discusses possible implications for future harm reduction programs

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Summary

Introduction

The HIV prevalence among injecting drug users (IDUs) in Indonesia reached 50% in 2005. While drug use remains illegal in Indonesia, a needle and syringe program (NSP) was implemented in 2006. Injecting drug use drives HIV epidemics in several regions of the world [1,2]. HIV can spread rapidly among injecting drug users (IDUs) and can increase from virtually zero to HIV prevalence levels of 20-50% [3,4,5]. Sharing of contaminated injecting equipment has driven the HIV epidemic in Indonesia [6]. Sentinel surveillance among IDUs in drug treatment programs in Jakarta indicated a rise in HIV prevalence from near zero in 1995 to over 50% in 2002 [7]. In 2006, the Ministry of Health (MOH) estimated that the 220,000 IDUs living in Indonesia contributed for 63% of all HIV infections , including 55% acquired through injecting and 8% sexually transmitted by infected IDUs [8]

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