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Review
. 2013 Nov-Dec;24(6):e35-44.
doi: 10.1016/j.jana.2012.09.003. Epub 2012 Nov 17.

people who inject drugs, HIV risk, and HIV testing uptake in sub-Saharan Africa

Alice K Asher, Judith A Hahn, Marie-Claude Couture, Kelsey Maher, Kimberly Page
Review

people who inject drugs, HIV risk, and HIV testing uptake in sub-Saharan Africa

Alice K Asher et al. J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care. 2013 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

Dramatic rises in injection drug use (IDU) in sub-Saharan Africa account for increasingly more infections in a region already overwhelmed by the HIV epidemic. There is no known estimate of the number of people who inject drugs (PWID) in the region, or the associated HIV prevalence in PWID. We reviewed literature with the goal of describing high-risk practices and exposures in PWID in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as current HIV prevention activities aimed at drug use. The literature search looked for articles related to HIV risk, injection drug users, stigma, and HIV testing in sub-Saharan Africa. This review found evidence demonstrating high rates of HIV in IDU populations in sub-Saharan Africa, high-risk behaviors of the populations, lack of knowledge regarding HIV, and low HIV testing uptake. There is an urgent need for action to address IDU in order to maintain recent decreases in the spread of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa.

Keywords: HIV risk; HIV testing; injection drug use; stigma; sub-Saharan Africa.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosures: The authors report no real or perceived vested interests that relate to this article (including relationships with pharmaceutical companies, biomedical device manufacturers, grantors, or other entities whose products or services are related to topics covered in this manuscript) that could be construed as a conflict of interest.

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