AEGiS-13IAC: Project MIRO, the evaluation of harm reduction outreach activities in southern european countries, co-funded by European Commission.

13th International AIDS Conference

Durban, South Africa - July 9-July 14, 2000

Project MIRO, the evaluation of harm reduction outreach activities in southern european countries, co-funded by European Commission.

Int Conf AIDS 2000 Jul 9-14; 13:63 (abstract no.. LBPeD7117)

Volpicelli S, Agnoletto V, La Marca P, Lesmo C, Mollica R, Campos MJ, Roumeliotu A, Olivet F, Contreras J
LILA - Italian League for the Fight against AIDS, Milan, Italy. Fax: +39.02.515095, E-mail: stefano.lila@ecn.org.

BACKGROUND: the general aim of the MIRO project is the monitoring of "subjective efficacy perception" of informative and prophylaxis material adopted by outreach projects in relation to the modification of at-risk behaviors of HIV infection among IVDUs in the south of Europe.

METHODS: qualitative multi center study: 2554 interview/questionnaire have been administered to IVDUs from the MIRO partner's organizations: 497 in Greece, 741 in France, 515 in Italy, 458 in Portugal and 333 in Spain. These have been collected in the streets (1444), in health services (439), in Prisons (110) in Drop-in (498). Statistical analysis has been implemented through frequency distribution, cross tabulation and multivariate analysis.

RESULTS: In general, 64% of the total sample received the informative materials and 72.7% received prophylaxis materials in the south of Europe. However users still run at risk injecting behaviors: in the last six months they (at least one time): shared syringes 29.2%, used non distilled water 39%, borrowed the vial 42%, used a dirty spoon 36.2%, injected without disinfecting skin 68%, used a vial previously used by someone else 43.5% and had unprotected sexual intercourse 55.6%. Multivariate analysis showed us two different "dimensions" of consume: the first dimension we called "new pattern of consumes" is characterized by multi assumption of drugs, low age (less then 24) high risky behaviors in assumption; whereas the second dimension we called "traditional consume" represent the "classic" drug users, characterized by "fidelity" to heroin assumption, low school degree and low awareness of the HIV risks related to intravenous assumption.

CONCLUSION: MIRO results clearly show the existence of "impermeability factors" who still maintain high the HIV risks level related to IV assumption in the south of Europe, where the drug using population is still the most represented in AIDS figures.

Keywords: AEGIS, Harm Reduction, Substance Abuse, Intravenous, Risk-Taking, HIV Infections, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Europe, Social Welfare, European Continental Ancestry Group, Ethnic Groups, HIV Seropositivity, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, economics, AIDS
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