Local academic researches HIV fight

Promoting safer sex and safe injecting techniques among drug users is the key to fighting HIV/AIDS, new research has claimed.

According to the findings conducted among female prisoners by a leading academic, the development of an effective harm reduction programme on safer sex and safe injection in prisons could make a substantial contribution to HIV prevention and control.

Paul Fleming from the University of Ulster was part of a team that investigated the educational needs of female injecting heroin users in a Taiwan prison. The findings showed that although the prisoners had some knowledge about HIV/AIDS, they also held misconceptions about its transmission.

“Many of the prisoners who did not see themselves as being susceptible to AIDS rarely used condoms and occasionally shared needles,” Mr Fleming said.

“Due to the stigma surrounding the disease, many of the women said contracting cancer would be preferable to having AIDS. Many of them also said they had no confidence in assurances of confidentially regarding HIV testing.

“These are all crucial issues that must be addressed in an effective HIV/AIDS education programme, with respect to the needs of female injecting heroin users."

Mr Fleming said that given the limited resources and funds and the recent trend in new HIV infections, prevention should be focused on injecting drug users, especially in developing countries such as Taiwan.

In addition, safer sex should be regarded of equal importance to safe injecting techniques in pursuing HIV harm reduction for drug users. An effective programme could make a substantial contribution to HIV prevention and control.

“Future education programmes also need to focus on decreasing the social stigma of HIV/AIDS, thus reducing the negative stereotypes associated with it and empowering high-risk groups to access health-care services," he concluded.

(MB/SP)