Reducing substance use and risky sexual behaviour among drug users in Durban, South Africa: Assessing the impact of community-level risk-reduction interventions
| Autor: | Tara Carney, P Petersen Williams, Charles D. H. Parry |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2017 |
| Předmět: |
Male
Health (social science) Psychological intervention consommation de l’alcool et autres drogues HIV Infections law.invention Condoms Drug Users Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System South Africa 0302 clinical medicine law Immunology and Allergy 030212 general & internal medicine Program Development Substance Abuse Intravenous sensibilisation communautaire comportements à risque pour le VIH intervention education.field_of_study lcsh:Public aspects of medicine 3. Good health Outreach Infectious Diseases Female Original Article 0305 other medical science Adult medicine.medical_specialty Adolescent Sexual Behavior community outreach Population Directive Counseling Peer Group Article HIV risk behaviours Young Adult 03 medical and health sciences Risk-Taking Condom Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) Intervention (counseling) alcohol and other drug use medicine Humans Cities Psychiatry education interventions Organizations Harm reduction 030505 public health business.industry Public Health Environmental and Occupational Health lcsh:RA1-1270 medicine.disease HIV risk behaviours alcohol and other drug use interventions community outreach Expanded access business Risk Reduction Behavior Program Evaluation |
| Zdroj: | SAHARA-J, Vol 14, Iss 1, Pp 110-117 (2017) SAHARA J : Journal of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS Research Alliance SAHARA-J: Journal of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS; Vol 14, No 1 (2017); 110-117 |
| ISSN: | 1813-4424 1729-0376 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/17290376.2017.1381640 |
| Popis: | Alcohol and other drug (AOD) use is increasingly recognised as having a direct and indirect effect on the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, there is evidence to suggest that drug- and sex-related HIV risk-reduction interventions targeted at drug users within drug treatment centres or via community outreach efforts can lead to positive health outcomes. This study aimed to test whether a community-level intervention aimed at AOD users has an impact on risky AOD use and sexual risk behaviour. In 2007, in collaboration with a local non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Durban, an initiative was begun to implement a number of harm reduction strategies for injection and non-injection drug users. The NGO recruited peer outreach workers who received intensive initial training, which was followed by sixmonthly monitoring and evaluation of their performance. Participants had to be 16 years of age or older, and selfreported alcohol and/or drug users. Peer outreach workers completed a face-to-face baseline questionnaire with participants which recorded risk behaviours and a risk-reduction plan was developed with participants which consisted of reducing injection (if applicable) and non-injection drug use and sex-related risks. Other components of the intervention included distribution of condoms, risk-reduction counselling, expanded access to HIV Testing Services, HIV/sexually transmitted infection care and treatment, and referrals to substance abuse treatment and social services. At follow-up, the baseline questionnaire was completed again and participants were also asked the frequency of reducing identified risk behaviours. Baseline information was collected from 138 drug users recruited into the study through community-based outreach, and who were subsequently followed up between 2010 and 2012. No injection drug users were reached. The data presented here are for first contact (baseline) and the final follow-up contact with the participants. There were no decreases in drug use practices such as use of cannabis, heroin, cocaine and Ecstasy after the intervention with drug users; however, there was a significant reduction in alcohol use following the intervention. While there was a substantial increase in the proportion of participants using drugs daily as opposed to more often, the reduction in the frequency of drug use was not statistically significant. Following the intervention, drug users had significantly fewer sexual partners, but there were no significant differences following the intervention with regard to frequency of sex or use of condoms. Substance use in general and during sex was, however, decreased. While the findings were mixed, the study shows that it is possible to provide HIV risk-reduction services to a population of substance users who are less likely to receive services through community outreach, and provide risk-reduction information, condoms and condom demonstration and other services. More intensive interventions might be needed to have a substantial impact on substance use and substance use-related HIV risk behaviours.Keywords: HIV risk behaviours, alcohol and other drug use, interventions, community outreach |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
|