ABSTRACT
Background: Lai Chau is one of northwestern provinces of Vietnam, where there was a drug vice and high prevalence of drug users. It is necessary to evaluate the situation of HIV infection in this group. Objectives: A study on HIV prevalence and factors relating to the behaviors of HIV Infection among Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) in various districts of Lai Chau province. Subjects and method: A quantitative, cross-sectional study was carried out on 330 IDUs in Lai Chau town and 3 districts of Lai Chau province from January to December 2007. Results: 40.30% of the IDUs tested positive for HIV, nearly 2 times higher than the prevalence in 2006 (23.2%). 87.27% of the IDUs never re-used their syringes and needles. However, 12.4% still sometimes re-used their syringes and needles. Of 43 IDUs (12.73%) who re-used their syringes and needles, only 27.91% always cleaned their syringes and needles, 23.26% cleaned their syringes and needles most of the time after using them and up to 27.91% only sometimes cleaned their syringes and needles. Most IDUs use heroin (97.88%). Percentage of IDUs sharing syringes and needles accounts for 12.42%. 10% of the IDUs had sexual intercourses with commercial sex workers within the last month. There is a relationship between the time of using drugs and the HIV prevalence rate. There is a double risk of HIV infection for the IDUs injecting drugs for 5 years and upwards compared to those injecting drugs less than 5 years. (p <0.05, OR = 2). Conclusion: It is required to develop communications in order to change the behaviors of HIV infection among IDUs in Lai Chau province.