Evaluating the Determinants and Prevalence of HIV among Intravenous Drug Users in Benin

摘要

HIV remains a serious global health problem. In Benin, intravenous drug users (IDUs) are at higher risk for HIV infection and are one of the groups the National AIDS Control Council (CNLS) has focused on in its strategic planning. The present study was conducted to estimate the rate of HIV prevalence among IDUs in Benin and identify potential risk factors. To this end, the 2013 and 2015 directives issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) regarding Second generation surveillance were followed. In total, 386 IDUs participated in the study from all departments of Benin, 3.1% of them were women. The average age of participants was 35 (±10.7). The median length of time that participants had been using drugs was 10 years (range: 0 - 45) and cocaine was the most frequently consumed substance (56.0%). During their last injection, 90.9% of respondents used sterile injecting equipment. The HIV prevalence rate among IDUs was 4.7% (95% CI: 2.63% - 7.11%), compared to 1.2% within the general population. The results of this study highlight the need to implement continual HIV surveillance systems and develop prevention tools that specifically address the needs of IDUs.