Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Description

Despite the scale up of interventions among People Who Inject Drugs (PWID), HIV prevalence continues to be high in India at 7.1%. Most worrisome is the continued high HIV prevalence in the North Eastern states (NE) of Manipur (12.9%), Mizoram (12.0%) and Meghalaya (6.4%). A qualitative study (2011) carried out to assess gaps in the national PWID program revealed that PWID interventions in India and especially NE states where the epidemic lies are lagging in terms of intensity and coverage of interventions, continued barriers to accessing services, stigma and discrimination, and lack of skills in dealing with PWID among service providers. Another observation by the qualitative study is that most PWIDs have transitioned from non-injecting modes of administration (e.g., smoking or chasing heroin) to injecting (e.g., injecting pharmaceuticals or heroin). Analysis of national program data revealed that Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) coverage in NE states was 12% (planned target 20%) and retention was also low (59%). Similarly, HIV testing coverage was also low (48%) in NE states. There is scant information on the extent of female PWID and the challenges this group faces accessing services. The estimated number of female PWID is 10,000 and they are concentrated in NE states. HIV testing facility data reveals a prevalence of 7-25% among female PWID. Similarly, HIV prevalence has been reported to be high among spouses of PWID (2.5% to 5%). There are also concerns regarding high reported spousal violence among this population (55%).

Who can apply

• Others

Contact

CDC Procurement and Grants Office <br/>Technical Information Management Section <br/>E-mail: pgotim@cdc.gov <br/>Phone: 770-488-2700 <br/>
pgotim@cdc.gov