Publications

Since the early 1990s, China has witnessed a dramatic, and incremental, increase in the consumption of illicit drugs, according to data from the National Narcotic Control Commission. At the end of 2005, there were 1.16 million registered drug users in China and around 700,000 heroin addicts, which account for 78.3% of total drug users. The most frequent route of drug administration was intravenous injection (50% to 70%). Although ‘chasing the dragon’ (inhalation of drug fumes) (55%) was a common route in initial heroin users, most drug users made the transition to injecting in order to achieve the same effect at lower doses, and to save on overall costs. Injecting of drugs and sharing of contaminated needles, and other injecting paraphernalia, have resulted in the transmission of HIV, leading to a high prevalence of HIV and AIDS among injecting drug users (IDUs). Hepatitis C virus (HCV) can be transmitted by injection drug use and it has been identified as the most common viral infection affecting IDUs. Co-infection with HIV and HCV is common in certain populations, especially in IDUs. Information about HIV and HCV infection, and HIV and HCV co-infection was obtained in separate studies but no overall profile of HIV and HCV co-infections and no detailed geographical variation studies in China were found to exist. This systematic review will present a detailed geographical distribution pattern of HIV, HCV infection and HIV and HCV co-infection among drug users of China.

This report provides biological and behavioural information of HIV related high-risk groups (HRGs) from the 3rd round of surveillance, conducted from March to June 2008 in Pakistan. The study was a cross-sectional behavioral and biological survey of three HRGs including Injecting Drug Users (IDUs), Male Sex Workers (MSWs), and Hijra Sex Workers (HSWs).

This is the second round of the Integrated Biological and Behavioral Surveillance Survey (IBBS) conducted among 360 migrant workers in five districts of the Western development region and another 360 migrants of the Mid to Far Western development regions. The field survey was carried out during the months of June to September 2008. The survey measured HIV and STI prevalence among migrant workers, as well as condom use, sexual behaviors, knowledge of HIV/AIDS and exposure to HIV/AIDS messages, cases of sexually transmitted infection (STIs), STI treatment behaviors, and drug habits.

The Lao PDR Multiple Indicator Survey is a nationally representative sample survey which was conducted between March and June 2006. In the 5,894 households successfully interviewed nationally in the survey, 33,100 household members were listed. Of these, 16,467 were males and 16,633 were females. The average household size found in the survey was 5.6.

Many times, paperwork and these administrative obligations delay rape survivors' access to some RH services, such as emergency contraception pills (ECP) or post exposure prophylaxis (PEP), because many of these services have small windows of time (72 hours) in which they can be administered effectively. Unless health service staff are aware and able, many of these women may miss their opportunity to obtain certain RH and HIVforms of care. To evaluate the current environment, a situation analysis of post-rape care services available at the first point of contact was conducted. The aim of this investigation was to gather information that could be used in the development of a comprehensive care and support system for the rape survivor. Secondarily, the study field-tested sensitive and practical tools that could be used in the future for large-scale situation analyses of the rape survivor services. This study was carried out in three cities in India (Delhi, Lucknow, and Vadodara) and four cities in Bangladesh (Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet and Tangail).

There is an urgent need to address the emerging and re-emerging epidemics of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people. Strengthening strategic information systems and implementing interventions for the prevention and treatment of HIV and other STIs among MSM and transgender people should be considered a priority for all countries and regions as part of a comprehensive effort to ensure universal access to HIV prevention, care and treatment. A meeting held on 15–17 September 2008 in Geneva brought together participants from the World Health Organization (WHO) and its United Nations (UN) partners along with representatives from 26 countries to discuss the role that the health sector can and should play in addressing prevention, treatment and care of HIV and other STIs among MSM, transgender people and their sexual partners.

Outline: - The essential criteria for a National Strategic Plan - The importance of prioritization - Effective intervention - The cost dimension - Other vital elements - Resources: Training agenda and manual, templates, toolbox, reference readings

The objectives of this assessment include: 1. To describe the characteristics of MSM with particular attention to adolescent and young males within community, entertainment, and congregate settings in Kabul, Kandahar, and Mazari-sharif as it pertains to HIV prevention. 2. To assess the circumstances of child abuse/exploitation within the context of MSM within communities, entertainment, and congregate settings in Kabul, Kandahar, and Mazar. 3. To strengthen the knowledge base for the HIV national response for MSM and child abuse/exploitation among the government, donors, and NGOs. 4. To make recommendations for a stronger capacity among the government, donors, and NGOs for appropriate service delivery on HIV prevention, care and support for MSM and children at risk of child abuse/exploitation. 5. To review the development of MSM community-based self-help and other appropriate approaches to HIV prevention, to reduce stigma and discrimination, and to reduce violence against children. This desk review of current literature on male-male sexualities, behaviours and sexual exploitation in Afghanistan is a part of the rapid assessment of male vulnerabilities to HIV and sexual exploitation in Afghanistan.

This study is the third round of the IBBS and was conducted from June through to August 2008, among 200 female sex workers (FSWs) in Pokhara. The study was undertaken to measure the prevalence of HIV and syphilis, and associated risk behaviors, among FSWs. Demographic and sexual behavior data were collected through a structured questionnaire, while the prevalence of HIV and syphilis were selectively measured by blood samples.

This study is the third round of the Integrated Biological and Behavioral Surveys (IBBS) conducted from June through August 2008 among 500 Female Sex Workers (FSWs), both street (N=200) and establishment based (N=300) in the Kathmandu Valley (Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur districts). The study was undertaken to measure the prevalence of HIV and syphilis, and associated risk and prevention behaviors among FSWs.