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Abstract
Objective: To determine socio-demographic characteristics, prevalence and risk behaviors of HIV in injecting drug users in three cities of Colombia.
Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in three cities of Colombia; information was obtained from 796 participants over 18 years of age, with prior signed informed consent. Statistical analysis of the data and generated output tables were conducted in RDSAT and SPSS.
Results: There are extensive networks of injection drug users (IDUs). The population of IDUs was characterized as mostly men between 18 and 34. The data suggest a recent introduction of HIV into networks and a high degree of risk behavior for HIV spread in networks and used syringes. People who reported sharing syringes, were at greater risk of not using a condom when having sex with casual partners, this factor is increased when controlling for other variables consulted (OR = 4.10, 95% CI 1.23 to 16.05; p < 0.00).
Conclusions: The data in this report indicate a high risk for a possible expansion of HIV among injecting networks, supported the introduction of HIV into networks of injectors. For Colombia, this research constitutes a first step in the search for strategies to prevent the further spreading of the infection.