The social context of HIV risk behaviour by drug injectors in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

A combined research approach with both quantitative and qualitative methods was used to contextualise risk behaviour among injecting drug users (IDUs) in Ho chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam, in April 1997. A total of 630 IDUs (330 inside and 300 outside the rehabilitation centre) were recruited to the study. Very high-risk injecting behaviour among IDUs in the past, including sharing needles, syringes and drug solutions from the same drug pot in shooting galleries, may explain why HIV prevalence among IDUs in HCM has been growing rapidly. IDUs who had in the past injected on the street, used syringes from shooting galleries, were injected by drug dealers and/or joined in needle sharing were more likely to be sharing needles and syringes currently. Condom use was low, and was mainly with female sex: workers but nor with regular partners. Both IDUs who continue to use shooting galleries and shooting gallery owners should be educated on the necessity of using clean injecting equipment and on how to clean it properly. Co-ordination between ministries and agencies involved in HIV/AIDS and drugs programmes is needed to create policies for supportive environments to bring about changes in both drug use and HIV risk behaviours.