Prevalence of HIV among injection drug users in Georgia

Ivdity Chikovani,Mollie Wertlieb,Ketevan Goguadze,Natia Rukhadze,Sudit Ranade,George Gotsadze

doi:10.1186/1758-2652-14-9

Abstract

BackgroundInjection drug use remains a major risk factor for HIV transmission in Georgia. The study aims to characterize the prevalence of HIV among injection drug users in Georgia.MethodsA cross-sectional, anonymous bio-behavioural survey to assess knowledge and behaviour in injection drug users in combination with laboratory testing on HIV status was conducted in five Georgian cities (Tbilisi, Gori, Telavi, Zugdidi and Batumi) in 2009. A snowball sample of 1127 eligible injection drug user participants was investigated.ResultsOdds of HIV exposure were increased for injection drug users of greater age, with greater duration of drug use and with a history of imprisonment or detainment (p < 0.05).ConclusionsMore research is required to analyze the determinants of HIV risk in Georgian injection drug users. The imprisoned population and young injection drug users may be appropriate target groups for programmes aimed at preventing HIV transmission.

Highlights

Injection drug use remains a major risk factor for HIV transmission in Georgia
This paper reports on the findings of BioBSS that were conducted in five cities in Georgia in 2008-09 using a respondent-driven sampling (RDS) methodology as part of a Global Fund-supported project, and aims to identify HIV risk determinants among injection drug users (IDUs)
All IDUs across all five survey locations had heard about HIV/AIDS, and almost 50% knew a person who has been infected, became ill or died of AIDS

Summary

Introduction

Injection drug use remains a major risk factor for HIV transmission in Georgia. The study aims to characterize the prevalence of HIV among injection drug users in Georgia. Injection drug use is the primary route of HIV transmission in Eastern Europe [1]. An exceptionally high HIV prevalence among injection drug users (IDUs) is well documented in Ukraine and Russia. Georgia and other countries in the region are reporting increasing cases of HIV among IDUs [2]. Georgia is categorized as a low-HIV-prevalence country [3]. According to the national HIV registry data, there has been a sharp increase in newly diagnosed cases since 2004, with a steady increase since 2008. Injection drug use remains a major risk factor for HIV transmission. In 2009, more than 70% of new HIV infections were

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