Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #118097

Arshad Altaf, MBBS MPH¹, Sharaf Ali Shah², Ashraf Memon², Nadeem Rehman, MBBS MPH³, and Brother Norman Wray⁴. (1) Sindh AIDS Control Programme, HIV/AIDS Surveillance Project-CIDA, Services Hospital, Indoor Block, M.A. Jinnah Road, Karachi, 74200, Pakistan, (9221) 921 5782, arshad.altaf@gmail.com, (2) Services Hospital, Indoor Block, Sindh AIDS Control Program, Pakistan, MA Jinnah Road, Karachi, Pakistan, (3) UNODC, Programme Officer, Sauid Pak Tower, 11th Floor, Blue Area, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan, (4) Marie Adelaide Habiliation Programme, Progamme Director, Burns Road, Behind Sindh Secretariat, Karachi, 74300, Pakistan

Two cross sectional studies were conducted at a Drop in Center (DIC) of Marie Adelaide Habilitation Programme in Karachi, Pakistan to asses high risk behaviors and prevalence of HIV, hepatitis B & C and syphilis. The study was conducted in November and December 2003. 161 clients were included and blood samples of 160 study participants was collected. ÷ square test were used for comparing the results. One IDU was found positive for HIV. The prevalence of hepatitis C was 94%, hepatitis B 7.5% and syphilis 13%. Comparison with similar kind of study in 2002 indicate that there was no HIV positive while hepatitis C was 87%. Hepatitis B has remained in the same range and syphilis is slightly lower. Knowledge of IDUs regarding transmission of HIV/AIDS as a result of sharing of syringes and needles has improved from 81% to 99%. There is history of commercially selling blood (2.4%) and 94 (58%) paid for sex without using any a condom. However, attitude regarding use of condom if provided has significantly improved from 31% to 61%. Sharing of needles and syringes in groups and cleaning of syringe has not improved compared to previous study and clearly indicates weakness of the programme. No proper detoxification facility is available with the present programme even though those who enter rehabilitation are provided excellent care within the available resources. Continuous surveillance of the Sindh (Government) AIDS Control Programme indicate steady increase in the number of HIV positive IDUs.

Learning Objectives:

• At the end of the session the audience will understand the dynamics of injection drug use in Pakistan and how HIV epidemic would be driven by IDU in the country.

Keywords: Injecting Drug Use, HIV/AIDS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.