Vol. 1, Issue 1, Part A (2019)

Background: The study aims to understand the changes in HIV related risk behavior among IDUs between two points of time and which factor is influencing their behavior. Methods: Analyses are based on 2075 and 1977 respondents who participated in round I and II of the Integrated Behavioral and biological assessment (IBBA). IBBA collected the information among IDUs from the districts of Maharashtra, Manipur and Nagaland. Results: Results shows that almost three-fourths IDUs in the districts of Nagaland and Manipur initiated injecting drug use by age of 25 years out of which majority have initiated injecting drug use even at age 20 years or below. In Maharashtra, however, the scenario is little different, approximately half of the IDUs in round-2 initiated injecting drug use at age 26 years and above. Majority of IDUs initiated injecting drug use within the first of drug use in each of the tree states. Further, findings revealed that IDUs sharing of needle/syringes with another partners, inconsistent condom use in the last sex with regular and casual partners were more likely to have STI/HIV prevalence. Conclusions: The Gap between transitions from first drug use to first injecting drug use is very narrow as a substantial proportion of drug users initiate injecting drug use within a year. In all the districts, the transition plays a key role and those initiated injecting drug use within one year of taking drugs are more likely to have HIV sero-positivity than the others. And those who’s multiple sexual partners as a IDUs are more likely to have HIV sero-positivity. Interventions should be designed to identify, reach and work with the potential IDUs through network based approach to ably suspend the transition those initiated injecting drug use below age 25 years and within first years of drug use.