14th International AIDS Conference Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. TuOrF1163)

Vuong TH, Pham HT, Chu AQ, Le YN, Dang KV, Nguyen KT
United Nations International Drug Control Program, Hanoi, Vietnam

ISSUES: Reported HIV cases have been rapidly increased in northern Vietnam since 1993 with cases predominantly in injection drug users (IDU). To address this, the National AIDS Standing Bureau of Vietnam piloted a three-year HIV prevention project for IDU through harm reduction interventions (Project AD/VIE97/B07 1997-2000) in five northern provinces: Lang Son, Thai Nguyen, Hanoi, Hai Phong and Nghe An.

DESCRIPTION: Major activities included advocacy, peer education and law enforcement training, risk-reduction outreach activities, and condoms and syringes and needles distribution program. This paper is a review of reports from peer educators, yearly evaluation, baseline and follow-up surveys, observation and field visits to the project sites. LESSONS LEARNT: The model took a third of the project duration to be established. Peer educators were effective in reaching injection drug users and promoting adoption of safer behaviors. The program impact was limited due to low coverage. Barriers to syringes and needles program was low aception or support of law enforcers. Yearly training workshop for provincial law enforcers was thus held. The National Harm Reduction Policy Forum conducted in 2000 was a culmination activity of the project. RECOMMENDATION: Peer-based harm reduction interventions targeting IDu can be a potential HIV prevention strategy in Vietnam, thus need to be appropriately invested and expanded to a considerably greater coverage.

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TuOrF1163

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