Young and invisible: a qualitative study of service engagement by people who inject drugs in India.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The HIV epidemic in India is concentrated in key populations such as people who inject drugs (PWID). New HIV infections are high among young PWID (≤30 years of age), who are hard to engage in services. We assessed perspectives of young PWID to guide development of youth-specific services.

Setting

We conducted focus group discussions (FGDs) with PWID and staff at venues offering services to PWID in three Indian cities representing historical and emerging drug use epidemics.

Participants

PWID were eligible to participate if they were between 18 and 35 years, had initiated injection as adolescents or young adults and knew adolescent PWID in their networks. 43 PWID (81% male, 19% female) and 10 staff members participated in FGDs. A semistructured interview guid

SUBMITTER: Ganapathi L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8458355 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature