ISSN:
1573-7284
Keywords:
AIDS
;
Drug use
;
Europe
;
HIV
;
Injecting
;
Prevention
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Strategies for controlling the HIV epidemic include education and information campaigns for intravenous drug users (IDUs), as for all high-risk groups, and the provision of various public health measures and treatment. These can only be effective if the IDU is aware of them and has a favourable image of them. A study of 2330 IDUs in 12 European countries recorded awareness and opinions of various categories of measures and institutions. Of all measures, those mentioned most often related to availability of new injecting equipment; specifically unrestricted sales in pharmacies and needle exchanges, which were also thought to be more useful than anything else. Prompted awareness of rehabilitative institutions was well over 90% in most countries, but up to a quarter of IDUs did not trust them and up to one fifth did not think that they were useful. There appears to be a general need for more effective communication with IDUs to improve the image of the services available.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01730362
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