Citation

Kumar MS, Sharma M. Subst. Use Misuse 2008; 43(8): 1062-1077.

Affiliation

Consultant Psychiatrist, Chennai, India.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10826080801918189

PMID

18649230

Abstract

Given the feminization of the HIV epidemic in India and Bangladesh, understanding substance-use-related concerns among women is important for effective HIV prevention. This review is based on published research, reports (2000-2005), and primary data from treatment centers for drug-using women. We identify four main themes: (a) opioid use and injecting drug use in women, (b) alcohol use in sex work settings, (c) sexual transmission of HIV from male-injecting drug users (IDUs) to their regular female sex partners, and (d) sexual violence among female partners of substance-using men. We urge for focused HIV prevention interventions targeting substance-using women and female sex partners of male substance users to reduce vulnerability.

Language: en