Гендерно-обусловленная уязвимость к ВИЧ женщин, употребляющих наркотики, в длительных гетеросексуальных отношения: результаты первичного опроса рандомизированного исследования в Украине Текст научной статьи по специальности «Фундаментальная медицина»

Shulga L (2012) HIV gender-based vulnerabilities of women using drugs in long-term heterosexual relationships: baseline results from a randomized trial in Ukraine. Tobacco Control and Public Health in Eastern Europe 2 (Supplement 1, 2nd conference 'Economics, sociology, theory and practice of public health'):s55-s56. doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.92841

HIV gender-based vulnerabilities of women using drugs in long-term heterosexual relationships: baseline results from a randomized trial in Ukraine

Shulga, Liudmyla

BACKGROUND: Sexual way of HIV transmission in Ukraine outweighs parenteral route since 2007. In response to situation change couple's counseling for IDUs was introduced and is currently tested within randomized trial.

METHODS: Baseline data were collected in JuneSeptember 2011: 548 IDU couples in 10 cities were surveyed and screened for HIV and hepatitis C. Participants were recruited using respondent-driven sampling method.

RESULTS: The average age of participants varied between 30 - 33 years old with women being 3 years younger. On many aspects drug using couples in long-term relationships share the same values as non-drug using couples. However, drug use resulted into specific HIV/STIs risks for the couple.

Common reasons of being with the current partner included mutual understanding (98%); similar life styles (90%); understanding life with addiction (88%); and love (87%).

At the same time, looking at the quality time partners spend together, it was found that mostly, they are connected by their drug use, fear of social exclusion and economical reasons. Although these

factors are important for both men and women, they have a bigger impact on women and put them into more vulnerable position: 25% have children who in 59% of cases mostly live with mother and her partner; 40% live in a partner's house; 30% are financially supported by partners; 77% women get drugs from partners and only 20% are first one to be injected.

Trust also seems to be an issue. Thus, 83% of respondents believe that they know the HIV/STI status of their partner and 90% of those believe it to be negative, while 20% of those surveyed appeared to be HIV-positive and about 30% hepatitis C-positive.

CONCLUSIONS: Understanding characteristics of sexual partners is crucial for HIV prevention programme design and implementation.

KEY WORDS: gender, HIV, drug use, condom, couples

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Liudmyla Shulga, NaUKMA, ICF "International HIV/AIDS Alliance in Ukraine ", [email protected]

This paper was received 03.04.2012, accepted 15.04.2012, published 10.07.2012.

Table 1. Descriptive characteristics of the study sample (N=548)

Characteristic (unit) Males Females Difference significance

Age (years) 33,4 (32.7 - 34.0) 30,3 (29.7 - 31.0) *

Duration of relationships (months) 45,0 (41,6 - 48,4) 45,5 (41,9 - 49,2) NS

Live in official marriage (%) 15.6 (12.6 - 18.6) 15.1 (12.1 - 18.1) NS

Civil marriage (%) 64.2 (60.2 - 68.2) 65.5 (61.6 - 69.4) NS

Close relationship but not marriage (%) 20.1 (16.8 - 23-4) 19.4 (16.1 - 22.7) NS

Do not live together (%) 11.5 (8.8 - 14.2) 11.4 (8.7 - 14.1) NS

Live in my apartment/house (%) 42.6 (38.5 - 46.7) 29.0 (25.2 -32.8) *

Live in parents’ apartment/house (%) 26.8 (23.1 - 30.5) 39.7 (35.6 - 43.8) *

Odd jobs (%) 53.0 (48.8 - 57.2) 31.1 (27.2 - 35.0) *

Unemployed (%) 17.9 (14.7 - 21.1) 28.2 (24.4 - 32.0) *

Housekeeper(%) 0.4 (0.0 - 0.9) 20.1 (16.7 - 23.5) *

Partner helps finding drugs 50% (45,8 - 54,2) 77% (73,5 - 80,5) *

Feel safe 69% (65,1 - 72,9) 83 (79,9 - 86,1) *

Provides financial support 17 (13,9 - 20,1) 60 (55.9 - 64,1) *

Afraid of my partner 4 (2,4 - 5,6) 8 (5,7 - 10,3) *

Afraid to be alone 43 (38,9 - 47,1) 51 (46,8 - 55,2) *

Partner physically abuses me 4 (2,4 - 5,6) 12 (9,3 - 14,7) *

My child is living with us 20 (16,7 - 23,3) 59 (54,9 - 63,1) *

Always first one to inject 39 (34,9 - 43,1) 20 (16,7 - 23,3) *

2012, Vol.2, Supplement 11 Tobacco control and public health in Eastern Europe 2nd conference 'Economics, sociology, theory and practice of public health’ conference proceedings | s55

INJECTION DRUG USE

CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

Гендерно-обусловленная уязвимость к ВИЧ женщин, употребляющих наркотики, в длительных гетеросексуальных отношения: результаты первичного опроса рандомизированного исследования в Украине

Шульга Людмила Александровна

УДК 316.346.2:[616.98:578.828ВІЛ]-056.83

КЛЮЧЕВЫЕ СЛОВА: гендер, ВИЧ, употребление наркотиков, презервативы, партнеры

Шульга Людмила Александровна, Национальний Университет «Киево-Могилянская Академия», МБФ «Международный Альянс по ВИЧ/СПИД в Украине», [email protected]

Гендерна уразливість до ВІЛ жінок, які вживають наркотики, в гетеро-сексуальних відносинах: результати первинного опитування рандомізованого дослідження в Україні

Шульга Людмила Олександрівна

КЛЮЧОВІ СЛОВА: гендер, ВІЛ, вживання нарко- МБФ «Міжнародний Альянс з ВІЛ/СНІД в Ук-

тиків, презервативи, партнери раїні», [email protected]

Шульга Людмила Олександрівна, Національний Університет «Києво-Могилянська Академія»,

s56 |2 конф-ція «Економіка, соціологія, теорія і практика охорони здоров’я»

Контроль над тютюном й охорона громадського здоровья у Східній Європі | 2012, том 2, додаток 1