Background: There is high prevalence of HIV among Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) in Vietnam with a national level prevalence just under 20%. Both drug and sex related risk behaviors are widespread among IDUs. The objective of this review is to analyze HIV risk behaviors and identify the epidemiologic implications. Methods: Major databases were searched during November-December, 2011. Finally, 55 peer-reviewed articles were identified and reviewed to focus on risk behaviors of IDUs, Female Sex Workers (FSW) and drug policy and harm reduction program related issues. Results: Young injectors are involved in risk behaviors that include frequent sexual connections with FSWs. Our review found that young IDU subgroups (≤30 years) are engaged in high risk behaviors and have limited access to harm reduction services. Sexual risk factors associated with drug injecting FSWs may become the catalyst for a future heterosexual transmission if the prevalence rises further. Future research should focus on young injectors to investigate the structure and characteristics of networks to help guide harm reduction programs, including IDU subgroups. Conclusion: Vietnam has still a window of opportunity to learn from the experience of neighboring countries and, after modification, to incorporate preventative services suited to the needs of young injectors, into existing programs.
Published in | Science Journal of Public Health (Volume 2, Issue 3) |
DOI | 10.11648/j.sjph.20140203.22 |
Page(s) | 209-215 |
Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2014. Published by Science Publishing Group |
HIV, AIDS, Vietnam, Injecting Drug User, Risk Behaviors
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APA Style
Tanvir Ahmed, Nguyen Thanh Long, Phan Thi Thu Huong, Chiao Tzu Patricia Lee, Donald Edwin Stewart. (2014). HIV Risk Behaviours among Injecting Drug Users in Vietnam: A Review. Science Journal of Public Health, 2(3), 209-215. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140203.22
ACS Style
Tanvir Ahmed; Nguyen Thanh Long; Phan Thi Thu Huong; Chiao Tzu Patricia Lee; Donald Edwin Stewart. HIV Risk Behaviours among Injecting Drug Users in Vietnam: A Review. Sci. J. Public Health 2014, 2(3), 209-215. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20140203.22
AMA Style
Tanvir Ahmed, Nguyen Thanh Long, Phan Thi Thu Huong, Chiao Tzu Patricia Lee, Donald Edwin Stewart. HIV Risk Behaviours among Injecting Drug Users in Vietnam: A Review. Sci J Public Health. 2014;2(3):209-215. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20140203.22
@article{10.11648/j.sjph.20140203.22, author = {Tanvir Ahmed and Nguyen Thanh Long and Phan Thi Thu Huong and Chiao Tzu Patricia Lee and Donald Edwin Stewart}, title = {HIV Risk Behaviours among Injecting Drug Users in Vietnam: A Review}, journal = {Science Journal of Public Health}, volume = {2}, number = {3}, pages = {209-215}, doi = {10.11648/j.sjph.20140203.22}, url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140203.22}, eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjph.20140203.22}, abstract = {Background: There is high prevalence of HIV among Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) in Vietnam with a national level prevalence just under 20%. Both drug and sex related risk behaviors are widespread among IDUs. The objective of this review is to analyze HIV risk behaviors and identify the epidemiologic implications. Methods: Major databases were searched during November-December, 2011. Finally, 55 peer-reviewed articles were identified and reviewed to focus on risk behaviors of IDUs, Female Sex Workers (FSW) and drug policy and harm reduction program related issues. Results: Young injectors are involved in risk behaviors that include frequent sexual connections with FSWs. Our review found that young IDU subgroups (≤30 years) are engaged in high risk behaviors and have limited access to harm reduction services. Sexual risk factors associated with drug injecting FSWs may become the catalyst for a future heterosexual transmission if the prevalence rises further. Future research should focus on young injectors to investigate the structure and characteristics of networks to help guide harm reduction programs, including IDU subgroups. Conclusion: Vietnam has still a window of opportunity to learn from the experience of neighboring countries and, after modification, to incorporate preventative services suited to the needs of young injectors, into existing programs.}, year = {2014} }
TY - JOUR T1 - HIV Risk Behaviours among Injecting Drug Users in Vietnam: A Review AU - Tanvir Ahmed AU - Nguyen Thanh Long AU - Phan Thi Thu Huong AU - Chiao Tzu Patricia Lee AU - Donald Edwin Stewart Y1 - 2014/05/20 PY - 2014 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140203.22 DO - 10.11648/j.sjph.20140203.22 T2 - Science Journal of Public Health JF - Science Journal of Public Health JO - Science Journal of Public Health SP - 209 EP - 215 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2328-7950 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140203.22 AB - Background: There is high prevalence of HIV among Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) in Vietnam with a national level prevalence just under 20%. Both drug and sex related risk behaviors are widespread among IDUs. The objective of this review is to analyze HIV risk behaviors and identify the epidemiologic implications. Methods: Major databases were searched during November-December, 2011. Finally, 55 peer-reviewed articles were identified and reviewed to focus on risk behaviors of IDUs, Female Sex Workers (FSW) and drug policy and harm reduction program related issues. Results: Young injectors are involved in risk behaviors that include frequent sexual connections with FSWs. Our review found that young IDU subgroups (≤30 years) are engaged in high risk behaviors and have limited access to harm reduction services. Sexual risk factors associated with drug injecting FSWs may become the catalyst for a future heterosexual transmission if the prevalence rises further. Future research should focus on young injectors to investigate the structure and characteristics of networks to help guide harm reduction programs, including IDU subgroups. Conclusion: Vietnam has still a window of opportunity to learn from the experience of neighboring countries and, after modification, to incorporate preventative services suited to the needs of young injectors, into existing programs. VL - 2 IS - 3 ER -