Vietnamese-speaking injecting drug users in Melbourne: the need for harm reduction programs

Abstract

While research on aspects of injecting drug use (IDU), including injecting and sexual risks for HIV transmission, has been progressing in ‘mainstream’ Australian populations, there has been little among non‐English speaking background (NESB) communities in Australia, particularly the South‐East Asian communities, of which the Vietnamese is the largest. This exploratory study employed and trained peer workers to recruit and interview IDUs of Vietnamese origin in Melbourne on a wide range of subjects related to risks associated with their drug using, as an initial assessment of risk‐taking behaviours for blood‐borne viruses among Vietnamese‐speaking IDUs. A finger‐prick blood sample was taken where possible to measure antibody status to HIV, HBV and HCV. The profile which emerged was not dissimilar to that of their English‐speaking counterparts prior to the benefit of currently available harm‐reduction programs. A relatively isolated group whose social world often related only to other Vietnamese‐speaking drug users, they were engaging in unsafe sex and unsafe injecting and were unfamiliar with procedures for cleaning injecting equipment and where they could seek out information and services, including needle exchanges. This study has identified an urgent need not only to promote currently available information and services to this group, but also to provide culturally relevant education and other harm‐reduction measures needed to prevent transmission of HIV, other BBVs and STDs. The study has highlighted the lack of responsiveness of mainstream health services to the needs of Vietnamese‐speaking IDUs.

Risk behaviors and antibody hepatitis B and C prevalence among injecting drug users in south‐western Sydney, Australia

“…Our sample mirrors the ethnic and cultural diversity of SWS, with approximately half the sample self‐identifying as ethnic or cultural minorities and one‐third reporting a language other than English as the main language spoken at home 7 . Previous research suggests that Indo‐Chinese IDUs may be at increased risk of blood‐borne viral infections 10–14 . While almost two‐thirds (61.8%) of the current sample reported previous HIV testing, Asian participants were significantly less likely to have ever had a HIV test.…”

Representations and coverage of non-English-speaking immigrants and multicultural issues in three major Australian health care publications

“…Service- and screening-related original research findings included: lower reporting rates of pap test in women speaking a language other than English and varied uptake of pap test by region of birth [115]; low cervical screening rates for Vietnamese women was related to acculturation and years of residency in Australia [124]; translated personalised letters sent to Vietnamese women were ineffective in increasing cervical screening rates [119]; Hepatitis B status and vaccination coverage was studied in Vietnamese schoolchildren [125], in Vietnamese intravenous drug users [126], in infants from ethnic groups with high carrier prevalence [127], and in students at intensive English high schools [128]; Davis et al [129] found NESB elderly aged care assessment clients were under-referred for assessments and were more likely to require nursing home placement; Dolman et al [130] highlighted language barriers, cultural insensitivity and service knowledge as access issues for people with limited English; Davidson et al [131] reviewed refugee access to dental services and found several barriers; Neale et al [132] surveyed people recently arrived from the Horn of Africa and found 50% reported health access difficulties, mainly related to communication.…”

Ethnic and cultural determinants influence risk assessment for hepatitis C acquisition

“…In one study black subjects were more likely to have heard of HCV but were less likely to respond accurately to statements regarding HCV risks and prevention compared with whites and Hispanics 33 . Similarly, South‐east Asian IDUs demonstrated a lack of awareness of HCV, risks of transmission, and an unwillingness to use standard harm minimization strategies compared with their Caucasian counterparts 34,35 …”