AEGiS-14IAC: Harm Reduction Policy implemented by the Brazilian AIDS Programme -- Ministry of Health.

14th International AIDS Conference


Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

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Harm Reduction Policy implemented by the Brazilian AIDS Programme -- Ministry of Health.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. TuOrF1162)

Gandolfi D
Program of STD/AIDS of Ministry of Health, Brasilia, Brazil

ISSUE: 25% of the AIDS cases reported in Brazil are directly (IDU) or indirectly (their partners or sons) related to injecting drug use. Only 8.22% of the estimated IDU were reached by prevention and/or harm reduction projects.

DESCRIPTION: Since the difficulties to reach this group was linked to prejudices and legal problems, the Brazilian AIDS Programme adopted an human right an a right to health advocacy approach in its cooperation with States authorities, Ministry of Justice, NGOs and universities. The laws, or its interpretations, were changed. The "just say no to drugs" culture was changed, and new projects were produced in partnership with governmental and non-governmental partners. Federal and local authorities accepted new strategies in order to stimulate a non-repressive contact with drug users. This approach allows heath workers to propose syringes exchange, assistance, and treatments not based solely in abstinence of drug use. Universities collaborate in research efforts aiming at understand the IDU culture. Booklets and other educational materials were produced. Between 1999 and 2001 the number of projects increase in 468%.

LESSON LEARNED: Institutional partnership and advocacy in all levels of decision resulted in 11 new State laws on harm reduction, 15 new associations were created to advocate and implement harm reduction projects. In 1998 the National mean rate of HIV positive among IDU was 52%. In 2001 the seroprevalence in this group dropped to 36,9%. RECOMMENDATION: Harm reduction must be officially recognized as human right and IDU recognized as citizens, in order to reduce the spread of IST and AIDS.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, Public Policy, Health, HIV Seropositivity, Culture, Substance-Related Disorders, Prejudice, Research, Health Education, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Brazil, HumanKWDaegis,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,hivinfections,publicpolicy,health,hivseropositivity,culture,substance-relateddisorders,prejudice,research,healtheducation,seroepidemiologicstudies,brazil,human

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