HIV Testing and Willingness to Get HIV Testing at a Peer-run Drop-in Centre for People Who Inject Drugs in Bangkok, Thailand

Overview

Journal BMC Public Health

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Public Health

Date 2012 Mar 15

PMID 22414406

Citations 17

Authors

Lianping Ti

Kanna Hayashi

Karyn Kaplan

Paisan Suwannawong

Eric Fu

Evan Wood

Thomas Kerr

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Regular HIV testing among people who inject drugs is an essential component of HIV prevention and treatment efforts. We explored HIV testing behaviour among a community-recruited sample of injection drug users (IDU) in Bangkok, Thailand.

Methods: Data collected through the Mitsampan Community Research Project were used to examine correlates of HIV testing behaviour among IDU and to explore reasons for not being tested. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with willingness to access HIV testing at the drug-user-run Mitsampan Harm Reduction Centre (MSHRC).

Results: Among the 244 IDU who participated in this study, 186 (76.2%) reported receiving HIV testing in the previous six months. Enrolment in voluntary drug treatment (odds ratio [OR] = 2.34; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18-4.63) and the tenofovir trial (OR = 44.81; 95%CI: 13.44-149.45) were positively associated with having been tested, whereas MSHRC use (OR = 1.78; 95%CI: 0.96-3.29) was marginally associated with having been tested. 56.9% of those who had not been tested reported in engaging in HIV risk behaviour in the past six months. 181 (74.2%) participants were willing to be tested at the MSHRC if testing were offered there. In multivariate analyses, willingness to get HIV testing at the MSHRC was positively associated with ever having been to the MSHRC (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.42; 95%CI: 1.21-4.85) and, among females, being enrolled in voluntary drug treatment services (AOR = 9.38; 95%CI: 1.14-76.98).

Conclusions: More than three-quarters of IDU received HIV testing in the previous six months. However, HIV risk behaviour was common among those who had not been tested. Additionally, 74.2% of participants were willing to receive HIV testing at the MSHRC. These findings provide evidence for ongoing HIV prevention education, as well potential benefits of incorporating HIV testing for IDU within peer-led harm reduction programs.

Citing Articles

Peer- and community-led responses to HIV: A scoping review.

Ayala G, Sprague L, van der Merwe L, Thomas R, Chang J, Arreola S PLoS One. 2021; 16(12):e0260555.

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Recent HIV testing and associated factors among people who use drugs in Cambodia: a national cross-sectional study.

Eng C, Tuot S, Chann N, Chhoun P, Mun P, Yi S BMJ Open. 2021; 11(3):e045282.

PMID: 33653761 PMC: 7929833. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045282.

Peer driven or driven peers? A rapid review of peer involvement of people who use drugs in HIV and harm reduction services in low- and middle-income countries.

Chang J, Shelly S, Busz M, Stoicescu C, Iryawan A, Madybaeva D Harm Reduct J. 2021; 18(1):15.

PMID: 33536033 PMC: 7857348. DOI: 10.1186/s12954-021-00461-z.

Hernandez I, Sharma V, Reina-Ortiz M, Rosas C, Ochoa T, Izurieta R Int J MCH AIDS. 2020; 9(3):397-407.

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HIV, HBV and HCV in people who inject drugs and are placed on methadone maintenance therapy, Yangon, Myanmar.

Aye N, Oo M, Harries A, Mon M, Hone S, Oo H Public Health Action. 2019; 8(4):202-210.

PMID: 30775281 PMC: 6361496. DOI: 10.5588/pha.18.0050.

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