Injection drug use is driving HIV epidemics in low/middle-income countries in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Southeast Asia. Combined prevention and care for (including needle/syringe programs (NSP), medication- assisted treatment, and antiretroviral treatment), has greatly reduced HIV incidence among persons who inject drugs (PWID) in many high-income areas, to where the HIV epidemics among PWID have ended. There is now the need for a convincing demonstration that an HIV epidemic can be ended in a low/middle income setting. The overarching purpose of the proposed research is to demonstrate that high coverage implementation of combined prevention and care using an innovative approach will end the HIV epidemic among PWID in Haiphong, Viet Nam. The innovative approach consists of i) implementing repeated large community-based respondent driven sampling (RDS) surveys to reach and test a large proportion of PWID for HIV, and ii) mobilizing peer support groups to educate about the benefits of early ART, link HIV-infected PWID into HIV care and achieve viral suppression. Peer groups will also support safer injection, safer sex, and accessing methadone treatment for both HIV positive and negative persons. The research has five specific aims: 1. Demonstrate that the innovative approach can reduce PWID population viral load (the percentage of PWID with detectable HIV viral load) by at least half. 2. Assess progress towards ending the epidemic, using direct measurement of HIV incidence among PWID. The goal is to achieve an incidence of 0.5/100 PY or less (our operational definition of ending the epidemic'). 3. Utilize mathematical modeling to assess the contributions of different components of combined prevention and care to ending the epidemic among PWID in Haiphong. A model previously used in several other countries will be adapted to the Haiphong setting. 4. Assess the cost-effectiveness and cost savings of the proposed intervention activities to end the HIV epidemic among PWID in Haiphong. 5. Develop a large, high retention cohort of HIV+ and HIV- PWID for future collaborative research studies. Questionnaire data and biological samples from participants in the proposed study will be stored. We expect to have approximately 1500 active participants in the cohort at the end of the proposed research period. The feasibility of this ambitious proposal is ensured by i) the 2-year DRIVE-IN feasibility study we have already conducted in Haiphong, which assessed the situation and successfully piloted the intervention, ii) The existing good facilities for HIV care and MAT, iii) the strong local commitment of political and health authorities, pre-existing peer-support groups and NGOs, and iv) the DRIVE research consortium of Vietnamese, French and US researchers, a highly qualified team with a proven record of productive collaboration.

Public Health Relevance

Injecting drug use is driving many HIV epidemics in low and middle-income countries. This study will utilize large respondent driven sampling surveys to identify HIV+ persons who inject drugs in Haiphong, Viet Nam, followed by strong peer support to link them to HIV care and reach viral suppression. The goal is to reduce population viral load, reduce HIV incidence, and 'end the HIV epidemic' among persons who inject drugs in Haiphong.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DA041978-06
Application #
9925208
Study Section
Behavioral and Social Consequences of HIV/AIDS Study Section (BSCH)
Program Officer
Jenkins, Richard A
Project Start
2018-08-01
Project End
2021-05-31
Budget Start
2020-06-01
Budget End
2021-05-31
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2020
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
New York University
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
041968306
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10012
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Duong, Huong Thi; Jarlais, Don Des; Khuat, Oanh Hai Thi et al. (2018) Risk Behaviors for HIV and HCV Infection Among People Who Inject Drugs in Hai Phong, Viet Nam, 2014. AIDS Behav 22:2161-2171
Des Jarlais, Don; Khue, Pham Minh; Feelemyer, Jonathan et al. (2018) Using dual capture/recapture studies to estimate the population size of persons who inject drugs (PWID) in the city of Hai Phong, Vietnam. Drug Alcohol Depend 185:106-111
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Des Jarlais, Don; Duong, Huong Thi; Pham Minh, Khue et al. (2016) Integrated respondent-driven sampling and peer support for persons who inject drugs in Haiphong, Vietnam: a case study with implications for interventions. AIDS Care 28:1312-5
Des Jarlais, Don C; Thi Huong, Duong; Thi Hai Oanh, Khuat et al. (2016) Prospects for ending the HIV epidemic among persons who inject drugs in Haiphong, Vietnam. Int J Drug Policy 32:50-6