What Works for Women and Girls: Evidence for HIV/AIDS Interventions for Women Drug Users

While female intravenous drug users (IDUs) are at high risk of acquiring HIV from needle sharing and unsafe sex in numerous countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe, most programs have been designed for male IDUs. Harm reduction programs have been found to be effective and can be scaled up. Opioid substitution therapy is effective and can be used during pregnancy. Peer eduction can increase behaviors which protect against HIV acquisitioni. Harm reduction programs can also reduce HIV prevelance in female prison populations. Soem promising strategies include sex-segregated group sessions for IDUs to increase condom use and safe injections behaviors. Women's clubs can reduce HIV prevalence. Programming to prevent initiation of drug use can reduce behaviors that place women at risk of acquiring HIV. Many couples still need a better understanding of the risks of acquiring HIV through both sex and needle sharing. Increased access is needed for harm reduction. Interventions are needed to inform women IDUs of harm reduction early in pregnancy.