Behavioural changes in intravenous drug users in Geneva: rise and fall of HIV infection, 1980-1989

In the early 1980s, more than 90% of intravenous drug users (IVDUs) shared needles and syringes in Geneva. The prevalence of antibodies to HIV in the sera of outpatient IVDUs increased from 6% in 1981 to 38% in 1983; it was, however, still only 37% in 1988. IVDUs starting methadone maintenance in 19...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAIDS (London) Vol. 4; no. 7; p. 657
Main Authors Robert, C F, Déglon, J J, Wintsch, J, Martin, J L, Perrin, L, Bourquin, M, Gabriel, V, Hirschel, B
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England 01.07.1990
Subjects
Adolescent
Adult
Behavior
Female
HIV Infections - complications
HIV Infections - epidemiology
HIV Infections - transmission
HIV Seropositivity - complications
HIV Seropositivity - epidemiology
HIV Seropositivity - transmission
HIV Seroprevalence
Humans
Male
Substance Abuse, Intravenous - complications
Substance Abuse, Intravenous - epidemiology
Substance Abuse, Intravenous - psychology
Switzerland - epidemiology
Time Factors
Switzerland
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Summary:In the early 1980s, more than 90% of intravenous drug users (IVDUs) shared needles and syringes in Geneva. The prevalence of antibodies to HIV in the sera of outpatient IVDUs increased from 6% in 1981 to 38% in 1983; it was, however, still only 37% in 1988. IVDUs starting methadone maintenance in 1987-1989 had a seroprevalence rate of 22%. In 1989 the percentage of IVDUs exchanging syringes and needles fell to only 5% of seropositive addicts. Only one seroconversion was observed in 1094 patient-months of observation in 1988-1989, which was probably due to sexual contact. The evidence suggests that, in the IDVUs studied, transmission of HIV has diminished since the early 1980s.
ISSN:0269-9370
DOI:10.1097/00002030-199007000-00008