THE 6TH
NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE ON HIV/AIDS
Social and health benefits of participating in
HIV research with people who inject drugs:
Experience of the Drugs and Injections in
Vietnam - Initiation (Drive-in)
Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, Khuat Thi Hai Panh,, Don Des Jarlais, Marie JauffretRoustide, Duong Thi Huong, Pham Minh Khue, Le Bach Duong, Nham Thi Tuyet
THanh, Hoang Thi Giang, Didier Laureillard, Nicolas Nagot
Content
1. Background
2. Objectives
3. Objects and Methodology
4. Results & Discussion
5. Conclusion
6. Recommendation
The 6th National Scientific Conference on HIV/AIDS
Background
• HIV epidemic in Vietnam has concentrated highly in the
groups of injecting drug users, men who have sex with men
(MSM) and female sex workers (FSWs).
• Hai Phong:
– Is the biggest industrial city, the 4th biggest urban area in the country
– Is in a convenient position for both sea and road traffic; is the
gateway for drugs to get to Vietnam
 Is one of the provinces with the highest population of injecting drug
users
The 6th National Scientific Conference on HIV/AIDS
Background
• Existing research projects have:
– Focused on providing services: treatment and harm
reduction
– Few research projects on approach methods,
especially with difficult-to-approach groups such as:
• MSM who are injecting drug users
• FSWs who are injecting drug users
The 6th National Scientific Conference on HIV/AIDS
Objectives
• To identify measures to improve the efficiency of
different approach and sample selection
methods for research purpose
• To gain understanding on the motivation of the
participants
The 6th National Scientific Conference on HIV/AIDS
Methodology
• Context:
– This research is a part of the qualitative module that was carried
out in the Respondent Driven Sampling (RDS) period of the multinational project on drugs’ impact (Drive-in).
• Methodology
– Qualitative: Ethnigraphic observation and face-to-face in-depth
interviews
– Study objects: Selected from 603 participants in RDS
– Study sample: 30 including new injecting drug users (8), longterm injecting drug users (8), MSM injecting drugs (7) and FSWs
injecting drugs (7)
The 6th National Scientific Conference on HIV/AIDS
Results
Demographic – social characteristics of the research participants
Characteristis
Group
Number of people (N=30)
Gender
Female
22
Male
8
Age
About: 26-46 years old
Under 30 years old
9
30-39 years old
17
40 years old and above
4
Ethnic group
Kinh
30
Long-term living in Hai Phong
Born in Hai Phong
27
Immigrated from another province
3
Elementary school
4
Secondary school
23
Education
College/ University
3
The 6th National Scientific Conference on HIV/AIDS
Demographic – social characteristics of the research participants
(continued)
Characteristics
Group
Number of people (N=30)
Marital status
Married
8
Divorced
10
Unmarried/ Single
12
Living with friends/partner
4
Living alone
3
Living with family
23
Hold a formal job
1
Hold an informal job
18
Unemployed
11
Living condition
Occupation
Monthly income
About: 0 – 10 millions
Under 5 million dong
21
5 million dong and above
9
The 6th National Scientific Conference on HIV/AIDS
Benefits for participants
• Economic benefits are not all
“ In the beginning I have to say to honestly people invited
each other to go for 200,000d so I thought I would be able
to get that. But now money is not so important anymore. It’s
not because of this 200,000 that I have come all the way
from Do Son to here. Yes, like this morning, yesterday she
called me she told me about the allowance of 200,000 for
my travel but I don’t think that I come here because of that
200 but … basically I want to do everything again, all what I
have lost”.
The 6th National Scientific Conference on HIV/AIDS
Benefits for participants (continued)
• Health benefits
– More knowledge on HIV and STIs
– Get HIV, HCB, HCV tests
– Get support in accessing Methadone treatment
The 6th National Scientific Conference on HIV/AIDS
Benefits for participants (continued)
• Stigma is a barrier
– Stigma from their family and community “in their looks, their way of
speaking and their attitudes”
– Stigma against their drug injection, HIV status and their work
“Well in general it’s common that people keep distance and stigmatize. It
feels like… it’s very difficult to describe. But that’s their thoughts, I don’t really
know what those thoughts are. Sometimes I am very ashamed. Very
ashamed. Who wants to beg anyone for anything really?” (case01)
 A small number of participants was hiding their drug use situation.
The 6th National Scientific Conference on HIV/AIDS
Benefits for participants (continued)
• Experience when paritcipating in the research
– For most participants this is the first time they take part in a
research project
• The first time they can talk about themselves, their family, drug use
and their life in general
“ I feel that I can share my stories. It is often for drug users like us, not because I desire it
that much, it’s not desire, but it’s family issues or work issues that make us stressed and
come back to drugs… For many people when I say that they cannot understand, but
when I talk to people like me I can share everything, I can be honest.”
– Feel relaxed because they are not judged
The 6th National Scientific Conference on HIV/AIDS
Benefits for participants (continued)
• To identify the most
effective approach
method
– Location: Railway
area in the centre of
the city, Quay bridge,
Niem bridge
– Time: 4 – 5 pm
– Method: communitybased
 To adjust the organizing and implementing process for the future phases
The 6th National Scientific Conference on HIV/AIDS
Results and Recommendations
In addition to intervention activities, qualitative research modules
help better identify more effective approach method and the
participants’ motivation for their involvement in the research
Community-based approach method helps expand and diversify the
recearch participant group. Injecting drug users normally have
limited social relationships due to stigma
The research participation is an opportunity for injecting drug users
to share and reflect upon their lives, hence encourages them to want
to receive treatment and escape drug dependence situation.
The 6th National Scientific Conference on HIV/AIDS
THE 6TH
NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE ON HIV/AIDS
Thank you!