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HIV Infection and HIV-Associated Behaviors Among Persons Who Inject Drugs - 23 Metropolitan Statistical Areas, United States, 2018
- Source :
- MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report. 70(42)
- Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- In the United States, 10% of HIV infections diagnosed in 2018 were attributed to unsafe injection drug use or male-to-male sexual contact among persons who inject drugs (PWID) (1). In 2017, among PWID or men who have sex with men and who inject drugs (MSM-ID), 76% of those who received a diagnosis of HIV infection lived in urban areas* (2). To monitor the prevalence of HIV infection and associated behaviors among persons who reported injecting drugs in the past 12 months, including MSM-ID, CDC's National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS) conducts interviews and HIV testing among populations of persons at high risk for HIV infection (MSM, PWID, and heterosexually active adults at increased risk for HIV infection) in selected metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) (3). The estimated HIV infection prevalence among PWID in 23 MSAs surveyed in 2018 was 7%. Among HIV-negative PWID, an estimated 26% receptively shared syringes and 68% had condomless vaginal sex during the preceding 12 months. During the same period, 57% had been tested for HIV infection, and 55% received syringes from a syringe services program (SSP). While overall SSP use did not significantly change since 2015, a substantial decrease in SSP use occurred among Black PWID, and HIV prevalence among Black PWID was higher than that among Hispanic and White PWID. These findings underscore the importance of continuing and expanding HIV prevention programs and community-based strategies for PWID, such as those provided by SSPs, especially following service disruptions created by the COVID-19 pandemic (4). Efforts are needed to ensure that PWID have low-barrier access to comprehensive and integrated needs-based SSPs (where legally permissible) that include provision of sterile syringes and safe syringe disposal, HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing and referrals to HIV and HCV treatment, HIV preexposure prophylaxis, and treatment for substance use and mental health disorders.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Male
Health (social science)
Adolescent
Urban Population
Epidemiology
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
HIV Infections
medicine.disease_cause
Men who have sex with men
Drug Users
Health Risk Behaviors
Young Adult
Health Information Management
Environmental health
Pandemic
medicine
Humans
Young adult
Substance Abuse, Intravenous
Syringe
business.industry
virus diseases
General Medicine
Middle Aged
medicine.disease
Metropolitan area
Mental health
United States
Substance abuse
Female
business
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 1545861X
- Volume :
- 70
- Issue :
- 42
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....fc216c9672279c0f31957456f7985009