An Integrated Response to the Spread of HIV amongst Vietnamese Australian Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) in Victoria: Surveillance/Epidemiology Research Component.
There is mounting concern surrounding a disproportionate increase in ethnic Vietnamese IDUs with newly diagnosed HIV infections. This study proposes to estimate the number of ethnic Vietnamese IDUs in Victoria and measure the prevalence of HIV infection in the group. It also aims to increase our understanding of the population dynamics of ethnic Vietnamese IDUs. The study will measure the proportion of HIV tests performed on people identified as IDUs and determine the number of these tests that are positive for HIV and also the ethnicity of the people being tested and the testing location.
The results of this study will provide sound epidemiological evidence that can be used to develop an integrated response to the spread of HIV in ethnic Vietnamese IDUs. Such a response would include improved access to drug treatment services, primary prevention strategies (vaccination, harm minimisation) and primary medical care for ethnic Vietnamese IDUs.
Start - finish: January - December 2003
Project staff: Margaret Hellard, Peter Higgs, Oanh Nguyen, Nick Crofts
Collaborators: Anne Mijch, Infectious Diseases Unit, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne
Funding body: Victorian Department of Human Services
Outputs:
Margaret Hellard, Oanh Nguyen, Peter Higgs, Rebecca. Guy, Anne Mijch, Blood borne viruses in ethnic Vietnamese IDUs; A report on the prevalence and risk behaviours associated with the transmission of blood borne viruses among ethnic Vietnamese injecting drug users (IDUs) in Victoria - Draft Report *(available at our downloads page)
Contact: peterh[AT]burnet.edu.au*
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