Injection heroin use and HIV/AIDS are major public health problems in Vietnam, with HIV infection continuing to be concentrated among the growing injection drug use (IDU) population (20% HIV prevalence, nationally). Although considerable progress has been made to expand HIV prevention and antiretroviral therapy (ART) programs, the high HIV transmission rate among IDUs continues (HIV incidence, 5% per year), access to antiretroviral therapy still limited (11%), and mortality among HIV-positive drug users remains excessive (15% per year), requiring interventions. The Vietnamese government's approach to drug demand reduction has primarily relied on its system of 83 drug treatment centers (DTC) where most detainees (85%) are admitted through arrests by police. Relapse to opioid injection after such treatment is 71% within 6 months after release from DTCs. DTCs represent a unique opportunity to identify, test, and provide ART to a large segment of this marginalized population. We propose an intervention that employs the seek, test, and treat strategies for the IDU population and their network members, by ensuring that high risk individuals are sought for HIV testing, promptly referred to and maintained on ART, while HIV prevention interventions provided to the many who test HIV-negative, as well as those who test HIV-positive. The intervention will seek and test IDUs via DTCs using CDC-recommended routine opt-out HIV testing in criminal justice settings and also will seek and test their network members. HIV-positive IDUs will be referred to HIV care through a two arm randomized controlled trial to compare the effects of different levels of engagement in care on ART uptake, antiretroviral adherence, and treatment outcome. The total duration of the trial will be five years. The study will be conducted in all participating DTCs in the capital city of Hanoi

Public Health Relevance

This proposed research is to respond to the RFA-DA-10-017. The seek, test and treat intervention being studied is designed based on epidemiologic evidence to address major issues in testing, treatment and care for Vietnam's highest HIV risk population. The intervention will be integrated into government systems for drug treatment and HIV/AIDS services and will supplement existing HIV prevention and care efforts.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DA030776-03
Application #
8323941
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-AARR-G (50))
Program Officer
Aklin, Will
Project Start
2010-09-30
Project End
2015-08-31
Budget Start
2012-09-01
Budget End
2013-08-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$563,832
Indirect Cost
$80,942
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
001910777
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21218
Chandler, Redonna; Gordon, Michael S; Kruszka, Bridget et al. (2017) Cohort profile: seek, test, treat and retain United States criminal justice cohort. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 12:24
Nance, Robin M; Delaney, J A Chris; Golin, Carol E et al. (2017) Co-calibration of two self-reported measures of adherence to antiretroviral therapy. AIDS Care 29:464-468
Tomori, Cecilia; Go, Vivian F; Tuan, Le Nhan et al. (2014) ""In their perception we are addicts"": social vulnerabilities and sources of support for men released from drug treatment centers in Vietnam. Int J Drug Policy 25:897-904
Strathdee, Steffanie A; Shoptaw, Steven; Dyer, Typhanye Penniman et al. (2012) Towards combination HIV prevention for injection drug users: addressing addictophobia, apathy and inattention. Curr Opin HIV AIDS 7:320-5