People Who Inject Drugs in Intimate Relationships: It Takes Two to Combat HIV

Keywords

Injection drug use, Intimate partners, HIV/AIDS, Couple based prevention, Couple-based approaches, People who inject drugs, PWID, HIV prevention, HIV, Science of prevention, Sex partners, HIV, Sex partners, Prevention, HIV risk, Intimate heterosexual relationships

Abstract

We reviewed papers published during the past 18 months (2012-2013) focusing on micro-social contexts of gender and power inequalities as drivers of HIV risks among people who inject drugs (PWID) in intimate heterosexual relationships. Although there has been a proliferation of social and behavioral research on the micro-social contexts of drug injection in heterosexual intimate relationships, there is still a gap in knowledge of these issues, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Research has identified couple-based approaches for PWID in intimate relationships as an effective HIV prevention strategy to address micro-social contexts driving HIV risks. While HIV incidence has declined in many countries, prevalence remains at troubling levels among PWID and transmission from PWID to their sex partners is increasing in many parts of the world. HIV prevention among drug-using couples must address the importance of the relationship dyad and micro-social contexts.

Original Publication Citation

El-Bassel, N., Shaw, S.A., Dasgupta, A., Strathdee, S.A. (2014). People who inject drugs in intimate relationships: It takes two to combat HIV. Current HIV/AIDS Reports, 11(1), 45-51.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2014-3

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/5710

Publisher

Current HIV/AIDS Reports

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Social Work

University Standing at Time of Publication

Assistant Professor

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