Objective-To estimate the prevalence of HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) co-infection as well as current risk behaviors among HIV positive and negative injection drug users (IDUs) in Chennai, India. Methods

Prevention strategies for reducing suicidal behaviour among substance users need to be prioritized at the individual and the national level through effective design, policy and implementation.

Reducing sharing of injection equipment and unsafe tattooing through targeted and environmental interventions, increasing HIV risk perception, and promoting safer sex practices among IDUs and their sex partners are urgent program needs.

Background Injecting drug use has historically been the principal driver of the HIV epidemic in the Northeast states of India. However, recent data indicate growing numbers of people who inject drugs (PWID) in North and Central Indian cities. Methods We conducted face-to-face surveys among PWID in 7 Northeast and 8 North/Central Indian cities using respondent-driven sampling. We used a rapid HIV testing protocol to identify seropositive individuals and multi-assay algorithm to identify those with recent infection. We used multi-level regression models that incorporated sampling weights and had random intercepts for site to assess risk factors for prevalent and incident (recent) HIV infection. Results We surveyed 14,481 PWID from 15 Indian cities between January and December 2013. Participants reported high rates of needle/syringe sharing. The median (site range) estimated HIV prevalence and incidence were 18.1% (5.9, 44.9) and 2.9 per 100 person-years (0, 12.4), respectively. HIV prevalence was higher in Northeast sites while HIV incidence was higher in North/Central sites. The odds of prevalent HIV were over 3-fold higher in women than men. Other factors associated with HIV prevalence or incidence included duration since first injection, injection of pharmaceutical drugs, and needle/syringe sharing. Conclusions The burden of HIV infection is high among PWID in India, and may be increasing in cities where injecting drug use is emerging. Women who inject drugs were at substantially higher risk for HIV than men, a situation that may be mediated by dual injection-related and sexual risks.

Two months after the December 2004 tsunami in Tamil Nadu, India, we surveyed adults aged 18 years or older in a severely affected coastal village using structured interviews and the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire. The prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder was 12.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]=9.4%, 17.1%), and odds of posttraumatic stress disorder were higher among individuals with no household incomes, women, and those injured during the tsunami. In addition to promoting feelings of safety, interventions aimed toward populations affected by the December 2004 tsunami need to focus on income-generating activities. Also, there is a need to target initiatives toward women and those individuals injured during the tsunami, given that these groups are more likely to experience posttraumatic stress disorder.

We require that researchers complete a concept sheet for their proposed analyses, to be reviewed and approved by the study investigators. The study investigators will consider overlap of the proposed project with active or planned analyses and the appropriateness of study data for the proposed analysis.

NCT01031745.

Background Globally, 90% of HCV-infected individuals reside in resource-limited settings (RLS). We characterized the prevalence of HCV, HIV/HCV co-infection, and the HCV care continuum among people who inject drugs (PWID) in India. Methods 14,481 PWID were sampled from 15 cities throughout India using respondent-driven sampling (RDS) from January–December 2013. HCV prevalence was estimated by the presence of anti-HCV antibodies incorporating RDS weights. HCV care continuum outcomes were self-reported except for viral clearance among treatment-experienced participants. Findings Median age was 30 years and 13,608/14,449 (92·4%) were male. Overall weighted HCV prevalence was 37·2% (5,777/14,447); HIV/HCV co-infection prevalence was 13·2% (2,085/14,435). Correlates of HCV infection included higher lifetime injection frequency, HIV positivity, and a higher prevalence of persons with HIV RNA > 1000 copies/ml in the community. Of 5,777 HCV antibody positive PWID, 440 (5·5%) were aware of their status, 225 (3·0%) had seen a doctor for their HCV, 79 (1·4%) had taken HCV treatment, and 18 (0·4%) had undetectable HCV RNA. Overall, 6,138/12,128 (50·5%) did not get tested for HCV because they had never heard of HCV. Among the 5,777 HCV antibody positives, 2,086 (34·4%) reported harmful/hazardous alcohol use of whom 1,082 (50·4%) were dependent; 3,007 (52.9%) reported recent needle sharing. Awareness of HCV positive status was significantly associated with higher education, HIV testing history, awareness of HIV positive status, and higher community antiretroviral therapy coverage. Interpretation The high burden of HCV and HIV/HCV co-infection coupled with low-access to HCV services highlights an urgent need to include RLS in the global HCV agenda. While newer treatments will become available globally in the near future, programs to improve awareness, and reduce disease progression and transmission need to be scaled-up without further delay. Failure to do so could result in patterns of rising mortality, undermining advances in survival attributed to widespread HIV treatment. Funding US National Institutes of Health