The concepts of risk and prevention from the perspective of injecting drug users

• Published in: Cadernos de saúde pública Vol. 18; no. 1; p. 141
• Main Authors: Deslandes, Suely Ferreira, Mendonca, Eduardo Alves, Caiaffa, Waleska Teixeira, Doneda, Denise
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: Brazil 01.01.2002
• Subjects: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Adolescent; Adult; Drug Overdose; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; HIV Infections - prevention & control; HIV Infections - transmission; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Male; Middle Aged; Needle Sharing - adverse effects; Risk-Taking; Street Drugs; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - complications; Violence
• ISSN: 0102-311X

This paper provides an exploratory analysis, using a qualitative approach, to perceptions by injecting drug users (IDUs) on: (a) risks associated with injecting practices; (b) risks of HIV/AIDS; and (c) prevention of HIV/AIDS. The study was conducted in five harm reduction programs in Brazil (the AjUDE-Brasil Project). Forty semi-structured interviews were carried out. The study focuses on the concept of "risk". IDUs were mainly concerned over becoming ill and exposure to overdose and violence. IDUs dealt with individual problems in very specific ways in order to minimize them. They admitted that they were well informed about HIV/AIDS but lacked knowledge on reinfection and other bloodborne diseases. IDUs intended to follow guidelines established by health campaigns, but their addiction usually made it difficult. IDUs also suggested alternative harm reduction strategies and displayed a peculiar reading of concepts concerning sharing their injecting paraphernalia.