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Owczarzak J, Monton O, Fuller S, Burlaka J, Kiriazova T, Morozova O, Dumchev K. "Will you need this health at all? Will you be alive?": using the bioecological model of mass trauma to understand HIV care experiences during the war in Ukraine. J Int AIDS Soc 2024; 27 Suppl 3:e26307. [PMID: 39030874 PMCID: PMC11258484 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.26307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/22/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has severely impacted the healthcare system, including the provision of HIV care. The ongoing war is a human-caused mass trauma, a severe ecological and psychosocial disruption that greatly exceeds the coping capacity of the community. The bioecological model of mass trauma builds on Bronfenbrenner's concept of interaction between nested systems to argue that social context determines the impact of life events on the individual and how an individual responds. This paper uses the bioecological model of mass trauma to explore the impact of Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the ongoing war on HIV-positive people who use drugs in Ukraine, a particularly vulnerable population that may be negatively affected by disruptions to social networks, healthcare infrastructure and economic conditions caused by mass trauma. METHODS Data were collected between September and November 2022. A convenience sample of 18 HIV-positive people who use drugs were recruited from community organizations that work with people living with HIV, drug treatment programmes, and HIV clinics through direct recruitment and participant referral. A total of nine men and nine women were recruited; the age ranged from 33 to 62 years old (mean = 46.44). Participants completed a single interview that explored how the war had affected their daily lives and access to HIV care and other medical services; their relationships with healthcare providers and social workers; and medication access, supply and adherence. Data were analysed using the Framework Method for thematic analysis. RESULTS The war had a profound impact on the social, emotional and financial support networks of participants. Changes in social networks, coupled with limited job opportunities and rising prices, intensified financial difficulties for participants. Relocating to different regions of Ukraine, staying at somebody else's home, and losing connections with social workers impacted medication adherence and created lengthy treatment gaps. Participants also experienced a decreased supply of antiretroviral therapy, concerns about accessing medication for opioid use disorder, and overwhelming fears associated with the war, which overshadowed their HIV-related health concerns and negatively impacted medication adherence. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis reveals the complex impact of war on social networks and healthcare access. Maintaining support networks and competent healthcare providers will be essential amid the ongoing war.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill Owczarzak
- Department of Health, Behavior & SocietyJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Olivia Monton
- Department of EpidemiologyJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Shannon Fuller
- Department of Health, Behavior & SocietyJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Julia Burlaka
- Department of Mental HealthJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | | | - Olga Morozova
- Biological Sciences DivisionDepartment of Public Health SciencesUniversity of ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
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Mazhnaya A, Meteliuk A, Pykalo I, Altice FL. Qualitative exploration of the early experiences of opioid use disorder patients from private clinics after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in five major cities in Ukraine. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1238188. [PMID: 38162610 PMCID: PMC10756895 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1238188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation on 24 February 2022, over 6,000 patients were at risk of potential disruptions in treatment with medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in Ukraine. Before 2022, privatized MOUD clinics had emerged, partly driven by restrictive governmental policies and practices in state-funded facilities. Nevertheless, scant information exists regarding their operation and the patient's experiences, especially during crises. This study seeks to elucidate the initial lived experiences of patients utilizing private MOUD clinics, integrating these insights with an analysis of the responding health system during war. Methods The findings are derived from 20 qualitative semi-structured interviews conducted between March and June 2022, engaging participants from five major Ukrainian cities: Kharkiv, Kyiv, Odesa, Poltava, and Zaporizhzhya. Employing a rapid analysis procedure, we examined the data through descriptive and analytical summaries aligned with the domains of the data collection instrument. Results Emergent themes encompassed stress and uncertainty following the invasion's onset, challenges accessing MOUD, and consequent perceptions concerning state-funded versus private clinics. The study identified disruptions in the operation of private MOUD clinics across most cities examined. Issues pertaining to MOUD medication availability were linked to dosage reductions at state-funded clinics or pharmacy medication shortages or closures. Despite varied experiences at different MOUD clinics and cities, most participants continued their treatment. Discussion This qualitative exploration provides a perspective on lived experiences with MOUD treatment at private clinics amidst the initial months of the invasion, illuminating how the early days' stress, access challenges, varied responses from private MOUD clinics, and precarious conditions informed or altered preferences regarding MOUD treatment options. Moreover, these findings corroborate previously documented efforts by myriad stakeholders to mitigate war-related disruptions to MOUD delivery. These insights contribute to the international understanding of health system navigation and resilience during major crises, offering valuable lessons for preparedness development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyona Mazhnaya
- School of Public Health, National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Anna Meteliuk
- International Charitable Foundation “Alliance for Public Health”, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Iryna Pykalo
- Ukrainian Institute on Public Health Policy, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Frederick L. Altice
- Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
- Division of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
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3
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Wiginton JM, Booth R, Eaton LA, Smith LR, da Silva CE, Patterson TL, Pitpitan EV. Injection Drug Use and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among People who Inject Drugs in Ukraine: A Random-Intercept Latent Transition Analysis. AIDS Behav 2023; 27:3012-3026. [PMID: 36929321 PMCID: PMC10019801 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-023-04024-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
HIV transmission in Ukraine is driven in part by unsafe injection drug use and sexual risk behaviors among people who inject drugs. We performed a random-intercept latent transition analysis on responses to 9 binary injection drug use and sexual behavior items from 1195 people who inject drugs with negative HIV status enrolled in a clustered randomized clinical trial of a social network intervention in Odessa, Donetsk, and Nikolayev, Ukraine. We identified 5 baseline classes: "Social injection/equipment-sharing" (11.7%), "Social injection" (25.9%), "High-risk collective preparation/splitting" (17.0%), "Collective preparation/splitting" (11.3%), and "Dealer-facilitated injection" (34.1%). After 12 months, intervention participants were more likely to transition to the "Collective preparation/splitting" class, which featured the fewest risk behaviors. Transitioning from the "Collective preparation/splitting" to the "Social injection/equipment-sharing" class was associated with HIV acquisition for control participants. Research to illuminate the stability of these patterns and how they may benefit from uniquely tailored programming to reduce unsafe behaviors is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Mark Wiginton
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
- School of Social Work, College of Health and Human Services, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA USA
| | - Robert Booth
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 13001 E 17th Place, Fitzsimons Building, 2nd Floor, Suite C2000, Aurora, CO 80045 USA
| | - Lisa A. Eaton
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Connecticut, Family Studies Building, Storrs, CT 06279 USA
| | - Laramie R. Smith
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, School of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA
| | - Cristina Espinosa da Silva
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health & Human Longevity Science, University of California-San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA USA
| | - Thomas L. Patterson
- Departments of Medicine and Psychiatry, University of California-San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA
| | - Eileen V. Pitpitan
- School of Social Work, College of Health and Human Services, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Dr, San Diego, CA 92182 USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
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4
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Strathdee SA, Goodman-Meza D, Rafful CM. Addressing opioid use disorder: Mexico's step backwards. LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. AMERICAS 2023; 23:100520. [PMID: 37497392 PMCID: PMC10366457 DOI: 10.1016/j.lana.2023.100520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - David Goodman-Meza
- Department of Medicine, Daniel Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Claudia M. Rafful
- Faculty of Psychology, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
- Center for Global Mental Health Research, National Institute of Psychiatry, Rockville, MD, USA
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The Relationship Between Intersectional Drug Use and HIV Stigma and HIV Care Engagement Among Women Living with HIV in Ukraine. AIDS Behav 2022; 27:1914-1925. [PMID: 36441406 PMCID: PMC9703403 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-022-03925-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
This study used an intersectional approach to explore the association between enacted and internalized drug use and HIV stigma on HIV care outcomes among HIV-positive women who inject drugs in Ukraine. Surveys were conducted in Kyiv in 2019-2020. Among the 306 respondents, 55% were engaged in HIV care. More than half (52%) of participants not engaged in care reported internalized stigma related to both drug use and HIV status (i.e., intersectional stigma), compared to only 35% of those who were engaged in HIV care. Among those engaged in care, 36% reported intersectional enacted stigma compared to 44% of those not engaged in care; however, this difference was not statistically significant in the univariable analysis (p = 0.06). In the univariable analysis, participants who reported intersectional internalized stigma had 62% lower odds of being engaged in HIV care (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.22, 0.65, p < 0.001). In the adjusted model, reported intersectional internalized stigma (aOR 0.52, 95% CI 0.30, 0.92, p = 0.026), reported intersectional enacted stigma (aOR 0.47, 95% CI 0.23, 0.95, p = 0.036), and knowing their HIV status for more than 5-years (aOR 2.29, 95% CI 1.35, 3.87, p = 0.002) were significant predictors of HIV care engagement. These findings indicate that interventions to improve HIV care engagement must address women's experiences of both HIV and drug use stigma and the different mechanisms through which stigma operates.
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Haldane V, Jung AS, De Foo C, Shrestha P, Urdaneta E, Turk E, Gaviria JI, Boadas J, Buse K, Miranda JJ, Strathdee SA, Barratt A, Kazatchkine M, McKee M, Legido-Quigley H. Integrating HIV and substance misuse services: a person-centred approach grounded in human rights. Lancet Psychiatry 2022; 9:676-688. [PMID: 35750060 DOI: 10.1016/s2215-0366(22)00159-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Integrating HIV-related care with treatment for substance use disorder provides an opportunity to better meet the needs of people living with these conditions. People with substance use disorder are rendered especially vulnerable by prevailing policies, structural inequalities, and stigmatisation. In this Series paper we analyse existing literature and empirical evidence from scoping reviews on integration designs for the treatment of HIV and substance use disorder, to understand barriers to and facilitators of care integration and to map ways forward. We discuss how approaches to integration address two core gaps in current models: a failure to consider human rights when incorporating the perspectives of people living with HIV and people who use drugs, and a failure to reflect critically on structural factors that determine risk, vulnerability, health-care seeking, and health equity. We argue that successful integration requires a person-centred approach, which is grounded in human rights, treats both concerns holistically, and reconnects with underlying social, economic, and political inequalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Haldane
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Anne-Sophie Jung
- School of Politics and International Studies, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
| | - Chuan De Foo
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore; National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Pami Shrestha
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore; National University Health System, Singapore
| | | | - Eva Turk
- Institute for Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Medical Faculty, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Juan I Gaviria
- Coordinación de Vigilancia Epidemiologica e Infectologia, Hospital del Instituto Ecuatoriano del Seguro Social (IESS) Sur de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Jesus Boadas
- Centro de Rehabilitación Mental ANSALUD, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
| | - Kent Buse
- The George Institute for Global Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - J Jaime Miranda
- Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru; The George Institute for Global Health, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Ashley Barratt
- Positive21, London, UK; ReShape/International HIV Partnerships-European Chemsex Forum, London, UK
| | | | - Martin McKee
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Helena Legido-Quigley
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore; National University Health System, Singapore; Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Tsagkaris C, Matiashova L, Vladychuk V, Moysidis DV, Papadakis M, Trompoukis C. Public health considerations over HIV amidst war and COVID-19 in Ukraine: Harnessing contemporary history to address the syndemic. ETHICS, MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 22:100795. [PMID: 35498441 PMCID: PMC9035367 DOI: 10.1016/j.jemep.2022.100795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C Tsagkaris
- European Student Think Tank, Public Health and Policy Working Group, 1058 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - L Matiashova
- European Student Think Tank, Public Health and Policy Working Group, 1058 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Chronic Diseases Risk Prevention, National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Kharkiv, Ukraine
| | - V Vladychuk
- Bogomolets National Medical University, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - D V Moysidis
- European Student Think Tank, Public Health and Policy Working Group, 1058 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Hippokration University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - M Papadakis
- University Witten-Herdecke, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - C Trompoukis
- Department of History of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
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8
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Kraef C, Bentzon A, Skrahina A, Mocroft A, Peters L, Lundgren JD, Chkhartishvili N, Podlekareva D, Kirk O. Improving healthcare for patients with HIV, tuberculosis and hepatitis C in eastern Europe: a review of current challenges and important next steps. HIV Med 2021; 23:48-59. [PMID: 34468073 DOI: 10.1111/hiv.13163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In some eastern European countries, serious challenges exist to meet the HIV-, tuberculosis (TB)- and hepatitis-related target of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Some of the highest incidence rates for HIV and the highest proportion of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis worldwide are found in the region. The purpose of this article is to review the challenges and important next steps to improve healthcare for people living with TB, HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) in eastern Europe. METHODS References for this narrative review were identified through systematic searches of PubMed using pre-idientified key word for articles published in English from January 2000 to August 2020. After screening of titles and abstracts 37 articles were identified as relevant for this review. Thirty-eight further articles and sources were identified through searches in the authors' personal files and in Google Scholar. RESULTS Up to 50% of HIV/MDR-TB-coinfected individuals in the region die within 2 years of treatment initiation. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage for people living with HIV (PLHIV) and the proportion virological suppressed are far below the UNAIDS 90% targets. In theory, access to various diagnostic tests and treatment of drug-resistant TB exists, but real-life data point towards inadequate testing and treatment. New treatments could provide elimination of viral HCV in high-risk populations but few countries have national programmes. CONCLUSION Some eastern European countries face serious challenges to achieve the sustainable development goal-related target of 3.3 by 2030, among others, to end the epidemics of AIDS and tuberculosis. Better integration of healthcare systems, standardization of health care, unrestricted substitution therapy for all people who inject drugs, widespread access to drug susceptibility testing, affordable medicines and a sufficiently sized, well-trained health workforce could address some of those challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Kraef
- CHIP (Centre of Excellence for Health, Immunity and Infections), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Disease, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Adrian Bentzon
- CHIP (Centre of Excellence for Health, Immunity and Infections), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Alena Skrahina
- Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Pulmonology and Tuberculosis, Minsk, Belarus
| | - Amanda Mocroft
- CHIP (Centre of Excellence for Health, Immunity and Infections), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Centre for Clinical Research, Epidemiology, Modelling and Evaluation (CREME), Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Lars Peters
- CHIP (Centre of Excellence for Health, Immunity and Infections), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens D Lundgren
- CHIP (Centre of Excellence for Health, Immunity and Infections), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Disease, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nikoloz Chkhartishvili
- Infectious Diseases, AIDS & Clinical Immunology Research Center, Tbilisi, Georgia.,Caucasus International University, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Daria Podlekareva
- CHIP (Centre of Excellence for Health, Immunity and Infections), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Disease, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ole Kirk
- CHIP (Centre of Excellence for Health, Immunity and Infections), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Disease, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Pal A, Gondwal R, Singh Aulakh AP, Saxena V, Avinash P. COVID-19 Related Lockdown Breaking the Chain of Opioid Substitution Services: An Experience from Dehradun, India. Indian J Psychol Med 2020; 42:496-498. [PMID: 33414607 PMCID: PMC7750838 DOI: 10.1177/0253717620948456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Arghya Pal
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Rohit Gondwal
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Arvinder Pal Singh Aulakh
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Vrinda Saxena
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Priyaranjan Avinash
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
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Hines LA, Trickey A, Leung J, Larney S, Peacock A, Degenhardt L, Colledge S, Hickman M, Grebely J, Cunningham EB, Stone J, Dumchev K, Griffiths P, Vickerman P, Mattick RP, Lynskey M. Associations between national development indicators and the age profile of people who inject drugs: results from a global systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Glob Health 2020; 8:e76-e91. [PMID: 31839143 PMCID: PMC7024964 DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(19)30462-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Globally, an estimated 15·6 million people inject drugs. We aimed to investigate global variation in the age profile of people who inject drugs (PWID), identify country-level factors associated with age of PWID, and assess the association between injecting drug use (IDU) in young people and rates of injecting and sexual risk behaviours at the country level. METHODS We derived data from a previously published global systematic review done in April, 2016 (and updated in June, 2017) on the percentage of young PWID, duration of IDU, average age of PWID, average age at IDU initiation, and the percentage of PWID reporting sexual and injecting risk behaviours. We also derived national development indicators from World Bank data. We estimated the percentage of young PWID for each country, using a random-effects meta-analysis (DerSimonian-Laird methodology) and generated pooled regional and global estimates for all indicators of IDU in young people. We used univariable and multivariable generalised linear models to test for associations between the age indicators and country urban population growth, youth unemployment percentage, the percentage of PWID who are female, the percentage of the general population aged 15-24 years, Gini coefficient, opioid substitution therapy coverage (per PWID per year), gross domestic product (GDP) per capita (US$1000), and sexual and injecting risk behaviours. FINDINGS In the original systematic review, data on age of PWID was reported in 741 studies across 93 countries. Globally, 25·3% (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 19·6-31·8) of PWID were aged 25 years or younger. The highest percentage of young PWID resided in eastern Europe (43·4%, 95% UI 39·4-47·4), and the lowest percentage resided in the Middle East and north Africa (6·9%, 5·1-8·8). At the country level, in multivariable analysis higher GDP was associated with longer median injecting duration (0·11 years per $1000 GDP increase, 95% CI 0·04-0·18; p=0·002), and older median age of PWID (0·13 years per $1000 increase, 0·06-0·20; p<0·0001). Urban population growth was associated with higher age at IDU initiation (1·40 years per annual percentage change, 0·41-2·40). No associations were identified between indicators of IDU in young people and youth unemployment, Gini coefficient, or opioid substitution therapy coverage provision at the country level. No associations were identified between injecting and sexual risk behaviours and age of PWID. INTERPRETATION Variation in the age profile of PWID was associated with GDP and urbanisation. Regions with the highest prevalence of young PWID (aged ≤25 years) had low coverage of interventions to prevent the spread of blood-borne viruses. Data quality highlights the need for improvements in monitoring of PWID populations. FUNDING Australian National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, Open Society Foundation, WHO, the Global Fund, UNAIDS, National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit for Evaluation of Interventions, Wellcome Trust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey A Hines
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
| | - Adam Trickey
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Janni Leung
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Sarah Larney
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Amy Peacock
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | | | - Matthew Hickman
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jason Grebely
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Evan B Cunningham
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jack Stone
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | - Paul Griffiths
- European Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drug Addiction, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Peter Vickerman
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | - Michael Lynskey
- National Addiction Centre, King's College London, London, UK
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Abstract
In 2014, Russian authorities in occupied Crimea shut down all medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs for patients with opioid use disorder. These closures dramatically enacted a new political order. As the sovereign occupiers in Crimea advanced new constellations of citizenship and statehood, so the very concept of "right to health" was re-tooled. Social imaginations of drug use helped single out MAT patients as a population whose "right to health," protected by the state, would be artificially restricted. Here, I argue that such acts of medical disenfranchisement should be understood as contemporary acts of statecraft.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer J Carroll
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Elon University , Elon , North Carolina , USA
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12
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Chen Z, Wang Y, Wang R, Xie J, Ren Y. Efficacy of Acupuncture for Treating Opioid Use Disorder in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE : ECAM 2018; 2018:3724708. [PMID: 30622598 PMCID: PMC6304557 DOI: 10.1155/2018/3724708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2018] [Revised: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess the efficacy of acupuncture in treating opioid use disorder (OUD). DESIGN Systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Embase, PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Web of Science, ProQuest Dissertation and Theses, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED), Clinicaltrials.gov, and who.int/trialsearch were searched from inception to 23 December 2017. The methodological quality of selected studies and the quality of evidence for outcomes were assessed, respectively, by the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool and the GRADE approach. Statistical analyses were conducted by RevMan 5.3. RESULTS A total of nine studies involving 1063 participants fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The results showed that acupuncture could be more beneficial than no treatment/sham acupuncture in terms of changes in craving for opioid (MD -2.18, 95% CI -3.10 to -1.26), insomnia (MD 2.31, 95% CI 1.97 to 2.65), and depression (SMD -1.50, 95% CI -1.85 to -1.15). In addition, these findings showed that, compared to sham electroacupuncture (EA), EA had differences in alleviating symptoms of craving (SMD -0.50, 95% CI -0.94 to -0.05) and depression (SMD -1.07, 95% CI -1.88 to -0.25) and compared to sham transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation (TEAS), TEAS had differences in alleviating symptoms of insomnia (MD 2.31, 95% CI 1.97 to 2.65) and anxiety (MD -1.26, 95% CI -1.60 to -0.92) compared to no treatment/sham TEAS. CONCLUSIONS Acupuncture could be effective in treating OUD. Moreover, EA could effectively alleviate symptoms of craving for opioid and depression, and TEAS could be beneficial in improving symptoms of insomnia and anxiety. Nevertheless, the conclusions were limited due to the low-quality and small number of included studies. PROSPERO registration number is CRD42018085063.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihan Chen
- School of Acupuncture Moxibustion and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yitong Wang
- School of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Rui Wang
- School of Acupuncture Moxibustion and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jin Xie
- School of Acupuncture Moxibustion and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yulan Ren
- School of Chinese Classics, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Greene MC, Kane JC, Khoshnood K, Ventevogel P, Tol WA. Challenges and opportunities for implementation of substance misuse interventions in conflict-affected populations. Harm Reduct J 2018; 15:58. [PMID: 30486840 PMCID: PMC6263054 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-018-0267-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Alcohol and other drug misuse are significant but neglected public health issues in conflict-affected populations. In this article, we review the literature on the challenges and strategies for implementing substance misuse treatment and prevention services in conflict and post-conflict settings in low- and middle-income countries. We identified nine studies describing interventions in conflict-affected populations residing in Afghanistan, Croatia, India, Kenya, Kosovo, Pakistan, and Thailand. Six of these nine studies focused on refugee populations. Reports revealed challenges to intervention implementation, as well as promising practices and recommendations for future implementation that we characterized as existing in the inner and outer contexts of an implementing organization. Challenges existing in the outer context included low political prioritization, lack of coordination and integration, and limited advocacy for access to substance misuse services. Challenges within the inner context related to competing priorities and a shortage of providers. Resource limitations existed in both the inner and outer contexts. Stigma was a challenge that threatened implementation and utilization of substance use services in situations when substance use interventions were not congruent with the roles, structure, values, and authority of the system or implementing organization. Future research should focus on developing, applying, and evaluating strategies for overcoming these challenges in order to make progress toward meeting the need for substance misuse services in conflict-affected populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Claire Greene
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 North Broadway, Rm. 888, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | - Jeremy C. Kane
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 North Broadway, Rm. 888, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | - Kaveh Khoshnood
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT USA
| | - Peter Ventevogel
- Public Health Section, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Wietse A. Tol
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 North Broadway, Rm. 888, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
- Peter C. Alderman Foundation, Kampala, Uganda
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Melo JS, Mittal ML, Horyniak D, Strathdee SA, Werb D. Injection Drug Use Trajectories among Migrant Populations: A Narrative Review. Subst Use Misuse 2018; 53:1558-1570. [PMID: 29364762 PMCID: PMC6033671 DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2017.1416404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dual epidemics of injection drug use and blood-borne disease, characterized as "syndemics," are present in a range of settings. Behaviors that drive such syndemics are particularly prevalent among mobile drug-using populations, for whom cross-border migration may pose additional risks. OBJECTIVES This narrative review aims to characterize the risk factors for injection drug use initiation associated with migration, employing a risk environment framework and focusing on the San Diego-Tijuana border region as the most dynamic example of these phenomena. METHODS Based on previous literature, we divide migration streams into three classes: intra-urban, internal, and international. We synthesized existing literature on migration and drug use to characterize how mobility and migration drive the initiation of injection drug use, as well as the transmission of hepatitis and HIV, and to delineate how these might be addressed through public health intervention. RESULTS Population mixing between migrants and receiving communities and the consequent transmission of social norms about injection drug use create risk environments for injection drug use initiation. These risk environments have been characterized as a result of local policy environments, injection drug use norms in receiving communities, migration-related stressors, social dislocation, and infringement on the rights of undocumented migrants. CONCLUSION Policies that exacerbate risk environments for migrants may inadvertently contribute to the expansion of epidemics of injection-driven blood-borne disease. Successful interventions that address emerging syndemics in border regions may therefore need to be tailored to migrant populations and distinguish between the vulnerabilities experienced by different migration classes and border settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason S Melo
- a Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine , University of California San Diego , La Jolla , California , USA
| | - Maria Luisa Mittal
- a Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine , University of California San Diego , La Jolla , California , USA.,b School of Medicine, Universidad Xochicalco , Tijuana , Baja California , Mexico
| | - Danielle Horyniak
- a Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine , University of California San Diego , La Jolla , California , USA.,c Centre for Population Health, Burnet Institute , Melbourne , Victoria , Australia.,d School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University , Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
| | - Steffanie A Strathdee
- a Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine , University of California San Diego , La Jolla , California , USA
| | - Dan Werb
- a Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine , University of California San Diego , La Jolla , California , USA.,e Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael's Hospital , Toronto , Ontario , Canada
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15
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Dawson L, Strathdee SA, London AJ, Lancaster KE, Klitzman R, Hoffman I, Rose S, Sugarman J. Addressing ethical challenges in HIV prevention research with people who inject drugs. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ETHICS 2018; 44:149-158. [PMID: 27114469 PMCID: PMC6367727 DOI: 10.1136/medethics-2015-102895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2015] [Revised: 03/23/2016] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Despite recent advances in HIV prevention and treatment, high HIV incidence persists among people who inject drugs (PWID). Difficult legal and political environments and lack of services for PWID likely contribute to high HIV incidence. Some advocates question whether any HIV prevention research is ethically justified in settings where healthcare system fails to provide basic services to PWID and where implementation of research findings is fraught with political barriers. Ethical challenges in research with PWID include concern about whether research evidence will be translated into practice; concerns that research might exacerbate background risks; and ethical challenges regarding the standard of HIV prevention in research. While these questions arise in other research settings, for research with PWID, these questions are especially controversial. This paper analyses four ethical questions in determining whether research could be ethically acceptable: (1) Can researchers ensure that research does not add to the burden of social harms and poor health experienced by PWID? (2) Should research be conducted in settings where it is uncertain whether research findings will be translated into practice? (3) When best practices in prevention and care are not locally available, what standard of care and prevention is ethically appropriate? (4) Does the conduct of research in settings with oppressive policies constitute complicity? We outline specific criteria to address these four ethical challenges. We also urge researchers to join the call to action for policy change to provide proven safe and effective HIV prevention and harm reduction interventions for PWID around the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liza Dawson
- Division of AIDS, NIH/NIAID, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Irving Hoffman
- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Scott Rose
- Family Health International, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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16
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Marcus R, Bojko MJ, Mazhnaya A, Makarenko I, Filippovych S, Dvoriak S, Altice FL, Springer SA. A qualitative assessment of attitudes about and preferences for extended-release naltrexone, a new pharmacotherapy to treat opioid use disorders in Ukraine. J Subst Abuse Treat 2018; 86:86-93. [PMID: 29415856 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2018.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2017] [Revised: 01/03/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Numerous individual barriers, including negative attitudes toward opioid agonist therapies (OAT), have undermined HIV prevention efforts in Ukraine where the epidemic is concentrated in people who inject drugs (PWID). The recent availability of extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX), an opioid antagonist, provides new opportunities for treatment and prevention, but little is known about patient preferences. We conducted qualitative analysis using focus groups (FG) of PWID recruited based on OAT experience: currently, previously, and never on OAT in five Ukrainian cities. FG included 199 PWID in 25 focus groups. Focus group transcripts were coded and analyzed using a modified grounded theory approach to identify common themes and domains related to attitudes about and preferences for XR-NTX, relative to other treatments. Interest in XR-NTX was supported if supervised opioid withdrawal and psychological support were assured. Other factors supporting XR-NTX included a focus on younger PWID early in their injection career and motivated for recovery. Perceptions of recovery included not receiving psychoactive medications like methadone or buprenorphine. With more information, XR-NTX could be a viable option for PWID in Ukraine, especially if concerns regarding withdrawal and psychological support are adequately addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruthanne Marcus
- Yale School of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Martha J Bojko
- Yale School of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | | | | | - Sergii Dvoriak
- Ukrainian Institute on Public Health Policy, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Frederick L Altice
- Yale School of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, New Haven, CT, USA; Yale School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, New Haven, CT, USA; Centre of Excellence on Research in AIDS (CERiA), University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Sandra A Springer
- Yale School of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, New Haven, CT, USA
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17
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Treloar C, Holt M. Afterword. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2017; 49:171-172. [PMID: 29030081 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2017.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 09/08/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carla Treloar
- Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW Sydney, Australia.
| | - Martin Holt
- Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW Sydney, Australia
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18
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Bastos FI, Veloso Filho CL. Critical remarks on strategies aiming to reduce drug related harm: substance misuse and HIV/AIDS in a world in turmoil. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE EPIDEMIOLOGIA 2017; 18 Suppl 1:120-30. [PMID: 26630302 DOI: 10.1590/1809-4503201500050009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2013] [Accepted: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last decades, the initiatives implemented under the conceptual umbrella of Harm Reduction have gained momentum, with a vigor and scope (both from a geographic and social perspective) never seen before. A more balanced reevaluation could and should rather say such initiatives have resumed, to a large extent, ideas and actions launched much earlier, in the first decades of the 20th century. Notwithstanding, the dissemination of HIV/AIDS in recent years conferred an exceptional visibility and legitimacy to proposals formerly viewed as subsidiary or openly neglected. Nowadays, initiatives inspired by the Harm Reduction philosophy have faced an "identity crisis", not secondary (according to our perspective) to challenges faced by its concepts and operations, but rather as consequence of a world in a turmoil. Such fast-changing dynamics have reconfigured both drug scenes and the patterns and prospects of HIV/AIDS worldwide. This article briefly summarizes some of such recent, ongoing, changes, which have been deeply affecting both concepts and practices to the point of asking for a deep reformulation of most of the initiatives implemented so far.
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19
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Impact of opioid substitution therapy on the HIV prevention benefit of antiretroviral therapy for people who inject drugs. AIDS 2017; 31:1181-1190. [PMID: 28323752 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000001458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A recent meta-analysis suggested that opioid substitution therapy (OST) increased uptake of antiretroviral treatment (ART) and HIV viral suppression. We modelled whether OST could improve the HIV prevention benefit achieved by ART among people who inject drugs (PWID). METHODS We modelled how introducing OST could improve the coverage of ART across a PWID population for different baseline ART coverage levels. Using existing data on how yearly HIV-transmission risk is related to HIV plasma viral load, changes in the level of viral suppression across the population were used to project the relative reduction in yearly HIV-transmission risk achieved by ART, with or without OST, compared with if there was no ART - defined here as the prevention effectiveness of ART. RESULTS Owing to OST use increasing the chance of being on ART and achieving viral suppression if on ART, the prevention effectiveness of ART for PWID on OST (compared with PWID not on OST) increases by 44, 31, or 20% for a low (20%), moderate (40%), or high (60%) baseline ART coverage, respectively. Improvements in the population-level prevention effectiveness of ART are also achieved across all PWID, compared with if OST was not introduced. For instance, if OST is introduced at 40% coverage, the population-level prevention effectiveness of ART could increase by 27, 20, or 13% for a low (20%), moderate (40%), or high (60%) baseline ART coverage, respectively. CONCLUSION OST could improve the HIV prevention benefit of ART; supporting strategies that aim to concurrently scale-up OST with ART.
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20
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Mocroft A, Lundgren J, Antinori A, Monforte AD, Brännström J, Bonnet F, Brockmeyer N, Casabona J, Castagna A, Costagliola D, De Wit S, Fätkenheuer G, Furrer H, Jadand C, Johnson A, Lazanas M, Leport C, Moreno S, Mussini C, Obel N, Post F, Reiss P, Sabin C, Skaletz-Rorowski A, Suarez-Loano I, Torti C, Warszawski J, Wittkop L, Zangerle R, Chene G, Raben D, Kirk O. Late presentation for HIV care across Europe: update from the Collaboration of Observational HIV Epidemiological Research Europe (COHERE) study, 2010 to 2013. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 20:30070. [PMID: 26624933 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2015.20.47.30070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2015] [Accepted: 11/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Late presentation (LP) for HIV care across Europe remains a significant issue. We provide a cross-European update from 34 countries on the prevalence and risk factors of LP for 2010-2013. People aged ≥ 16 presenting for HIV care (earliest of HIV-diagnosis, first clinic visit or cohort enrollment) after 1 January 2010 with available CD4 count within six months of presentation were included. LP was defined as presentation with a CD4 count < 350/mm(3) or an AIDS defining event (at any CD4), in the six months following HIV diagnosis. Logistic regression investigated changes in LP over time. A total of 30,454 people were included. The median CD4 count at presentation was 368/mm(3) (interquartile range (IQR) 193-555/mm(3)), with no change over time (p = 0.70). In 2010, 4,775/10,766 (47.5%) were LP whereas in 2013, 1,642/3,375 (48.7%) were LP (p = 0.63). LP was most common in central Europe (4,791/9,625, 49.8%), followed by northern (5,704/11,692; 48.8%), southern (3,550/7,760; 45.8%) and eastern Europe (541/1,377; 38.3%; p < 0.0001). There was a significant increase in LP in male and female people who inject drugs (PWID) (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)/year later 1.16; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02-1.32), and a significant decline in LP in northern Europe (aOR/year later 0.89; 95% CI: 0.85-0.94). Further improvements in effective HIV testing strategies, with a focus on vulnerable groups, are required across the European continent.
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Polonsky M, Azbel L, Wickersham JA, Marcus R, Doltu S, Grishaev E, Dvoryak S, Altice FL. Accessing methadone within Moldovan prisons: Prejudice and myths amplified by peers. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2016; 29:91-5. [PMID: 26809933 PMCID: PMC5592800 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2015.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2015] [Revised: 12/13/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Maxim Polonsky
- Yale University School of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Lyuba Azbel
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Jeffrey A Wickersham
- Yale University School of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ruthanne Marcus
- Yale University School of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Svetlana Doltu
- Act for Involvement (AFI), Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
| | | | - Sergey Dvoryak
- Ukrainian Institute on Public Health Policy, Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Frederick L Altice
- Yale University School of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, New Haven, CT, USA; Yale University School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, New Haven, CT, USA
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22
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Mazhnaya A, Bojko MJ, Marcus R, Filippovych S, Islam Z, Dvoriak S, Altice FL. In Their Own Voices: Breaking the Vicious Cycle of Addiction, Treatment and Criminal Justice Among People who Inject Drugs in Ukraine. DRUGS (ABINGDON, ENGLAND) 2016; 23:163-175. [PMID: 27458326 PMCID: PMC4957015 DOI: 10.3109/09687637.2015.1127327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2015] [Accepted: 11/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To understand how perceived law enforcement policies and practices contribute to the low rates of utilization of opioid agonist therapies (OAT) among people who inject drugs (PWIDs) in Ukraine. METHODS Qualitative data from 25 focus groups (FGs) with 199 opioid-dependent PWIDs in Ukraine examined domains related to lived or learned experiences with OAT, police, arrest, incarceration, and criminal activity were analyzed using grounded theory principles. FINDINGS Most participants were male (66%), in their late 30s, and previously incarcerated (85%) mainly for drug-related activities. When imprisoned, PWIDs perceived themselves as being "addiction-free". After prison-release, the confluence of police surveillance, societal stress contributed to participants' drug use relapse, perpetuating a cycle of searching for money and drugs, followed by re-arrest and re-incarceration. Fear of police and arrest both facilitated OAT entry and simultaneously contributed to avoiding OAT since system-level requirements identified OAT clients as targets for police harassment. OAT represents an evidence-based option to 'break the cycle', however, law enforcement practices still thwart OAT capacity to improve individual and public health. CONCLUSION In the absence of structural changes in law enforcement policies and practices in Ukraine, PWIDs will continue to avoid OAT and perpetuate the addiction cycle with high imprisonment rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyona Mazhnaya
- ICF International HIV/AIDS Alliance in Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Martha J. Bojko
- Yale University School of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, AIDS Program, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ruthanne Marcus
- Yale University School of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, AIDS Program, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | | | - Sergey Dvoriak
- Ukrainian Institute for Public Health Policy, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Frederick L. Altice
- Yale University School of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, AIDS Program, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale University School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, New Haven, CT, USA
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Bach P, Wood E, Dong H, Guillemi S, Kerr T, Montaner J, Milloy MJ. Association of patterns of methadone use with antiretroviral therapy discontinuation: a prospective cohort study. BMC Infect Dis 2015; 15:537. [PMID: 26586238 PMCID: PMC4653887 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-015-1255-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2015] [Accepted: 10/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) is a proven treatment strategy for opioid dependent patients. Although studies have demonstrated that MMT increases contact with the medical system and improves adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV-positive people who inject drugs (PWID), the effect of MMT discontinuation on ART discontinuation has not been well described. METHODS We examined the impact of continuous MMT use, MMT non-use and MMT discontinuation on the time to ART discontinuation (defined as 90 days of continuous non-use following previous enrolment) in a community-recruited prospective cohort of HIV-positive PWID followed between May 1996 and May 2013 in Vancouver, Canada. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression was used to examine the association between MMT use patterns and time to ART discontinuation while adjusting for socio-demographic confounders. RESULTS A total of 794 HIV-positive PWID were included during the study period. In an adjusted analysis, in comparison to those who were continuously on MMT, MMT non-use (Adjusted Hazard Ratio [AHR] = 1.44, 95 % Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.19-1.73) as well as discontinuing MMT (AHR = 1.82, 95 % CI: 1.27-2.60) were both found to be independently associated with time to ART discontinuation. CONCLUSIONS This study reinforces the known benefits of MMT use on ART adherence and demonstrates how discontinuation of MMT is independently associated with an increased risk of ART cessation. These data highlight the importance of retaining PWID on MMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paxton Bach
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| | - Evan Wood
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada. .,Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| | - Huiru Dong
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| | - Silvia Guillemi
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| | - Thomas Kerr
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada. .,Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| | - Julio Montaner
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada. .,Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| | - M-J Milloy
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada. .,Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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Responding to the public health consequences of the Ukraine crisis: an opportunity for global health diplomacy. J Int AIDS Soc 2015; 18:19410. [PMID: 25787347 PMCID: PMC4365104 DOI: 10.7448/ias.18.1.19410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2014] [Revised: 01/09/2015] [Accepted: 02/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Peace and stability in Eastern Europe is now at a crossroads with the rapidly deteriorating foreign policy crisis continuing to unfold in the Ukraine. However, largely overlooked in the context of other foreign policy and diplomatic priorities are the serious public health consequences for the region following the annexation of Crimea and the subsequent decision to ban opioid substitution therapy in the disputed territory. Discussion On 1 May 2014, the Republic of Crimea officially announced it would end access to opioid substitution therapy, an essential harm reduction tool recognized by international organizations and virtually all other European countries. The policy development marks a critical reversal in the region’s fight against its growing HIV epidemic and also threatens years of public health gains aimed at providing evidence-based and integrated treatment approaches to combat drug dependence and HIV. Beyond these risks, the Ukrainian conflict could also negatively impact control of other infectious diseases that are converging with HIV and injection drug use, such as multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and hepatitis C virus. The continuing conflict is also likely to have a significant negative impact on Ukraine’s fragile public health system leading to even worse population health outcomes than currently experienced by the country. Conclusions In response to this crisis, the application of global health diplomacy principles represents a possible route of advocacy to ensure that HIV prevention, humane treatment of substance using populations, and improving public health outcomes in the region are pursued among concerned international stakeholders. In order to be effective, global health diplomacy efforts must be coordinated and advocated in all forms of diplomatic engagement, including at the core, multistakeholder and informal levels and through existing channels such as the different human rights bodies of the United Nations as well as amongst other actors. Hence, the Ukraine crisis represents a critical moment for the practice and advancement of global health diplomacy in order to ensure global public health priorities are given their rightful place in foreign policy making to hopefully help in bringing resolution to the current conflict.
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Bojko MJ, Mazhnaya A, Makarenko I, Marcus R, Dvoriak S, Islam Z, Altice FL. "Bureaucracy & Beliefs": Assessing the Barriers to Accessing Opioid Substitution Therapy by People Who Inject Drugs in Ukraine. DRUGS-EDUCATION PREVENTION AND POLICY 2015; 22:255-262. [PMID: 27087758 DOI: 10.3109/09687637.2015.1016397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Opioid substitution therapy (OST) is an evidence-based HIV prevention strategy for people who inject drugs (PWIDs). Yet, only 2.7% of Ukraine's estimated 310,000 PWIDs receive it despite free treatment since 2004. The multi-level barriers to entering OST among opioid dependent PWIDs have not been examined in Ukraine. METHODS A multi-year mixed methods implementation science project included focus group discussions with 199 PWIDs in 5 major Ukrainian cities in 2013 covering drug treatment attitudes and beliefs and knowledge of and experiences with OST. Data were transcribed, translated into English and coded. Coded segments related to OST access, entry, knowledge, beliefs and attitudes were analyzed among 41 PWIDs who were eligible for but had never received OST. FINDINGS A number of programmatic and structural barriers were mentioned by participants as barriers to entry to OST, including compulsory drug user registration, waiting lists, and limited number of treatment slots. Participants also voiced strong negative attitudes and beliefs about OST, especially methadone. Their perceptions about methadone's side effects as well as the stigma of being a methadone client were expressed as obstacles to treatment. CONCLUSIONS Despite expressed interest in treatment, Ukrainian OST-naïve PWIDs evade OST for reasons that can be addressed through changes in program-level and governmental policies and social-marketing campaigns. Voiced OST barriers can effectively inform public health and policy directives related to HIV prevention and treatment in Ukraine to improve evidence-based treatment access and availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha J Bojko
- Yale University School of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, AIDS Program, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Alyona Mazhnaya
- ICF International HIV/AIDS Alliance in Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | | | - Ruthanne Marcus
- Yale University School of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, AIDS Program, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Sergii Dvoriak
- Ukrainian Institute for Public Health Policy, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Zahedul Islam
- ICF International HIV/AIDS Alliance in Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Frederick L Altice
- Yale University School of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, AIDS Program, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; Yale University School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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Abstract
In this commentary, we review a set of "Big Events" from around the world that have adversely impacted substance using populations by first identifying common thematic areas between them, and then describing the unique challenges faced by the diverse and vulnerable populations impacted. The Big Events reviewed are multifaceted and complex in nature, and include the recent global financial crisis, economic and trade sanctions, political transition and its impact on ethnic minorities, colonialism and indigenous communities, and ecological disasters. All have led to immense trauma, displacement, and disruption to critical healthcare services/treatment for people who use drugs, populations who are left underserved in the midst of these crises. It is our hope that through this comparative assessment, global policymakers will proactively identify Big Events and prioritize the development of interventions and policy that meet the unique and immediate needs of substance using population in order to mitigate the significant negative short- and long-term impacts on global public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim K. Mackey
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California, San Diego – School of Medicine, San Diego, CA USA
- Division of Global Public Health, University of California, San Diego – School of Medicine, San Diego, CA USA
- Global Health Policy Institute, San Diego, CA USA
| | - Steffanie A. Strathdee
- Division of Global Public Health, University of California, San Diego – School of Medicine, San Diego, CA USA
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