International Journal of Epidemiology, Vol 28, 117-121, Copyright © 1999 by International Epidemiological Association
AG Davies, RM Cormack and AM Richardson
OBJECTIVES: To estimate (1) the number of current and former injecting drug
users (IDU) infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) alive in
Edinburgh, and (2) the total number of current injectors in the city.
METHODS: The number of infected IDU was estimated using a local register of
HIV infections with correction for incompleteness of the register. The
number of injectors was estimated by two independent methods, one based on
the HIV register, the other by log-linear modelling of four lists of IDU
interviewed in a city-wide survey, and/or attending drug treatment agencies
and family doctors because of drug use. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Estimates
for the period 1992-1994 of number of IDU infected with HIV, total number
of IDU, and prevalence of injecting. RESULTS: The HIV register indicated
that 371 infected drug users who had ever injected were alive and resident
in Edinburgh. In all, 95% of infected survey respondents appeared in the
register, leading to a corrected estimate of 472 infected ever injectors.
From this the number of IDU currently injecting (i.e. in the previous 6
months) was estimated to be 1770 (95% CI: 1340-2240), and the prevalence of
injecting as 8.0 (95% CI: 4.8-10.8) per 1000 Edinburgh residents aged 15-59
years. Log-linear modelling gave an estimate of 2070 (95% CI: 1360-2800)
current injectors. CONCLUSIONS: The number of HIV-infected IDU in Edinburgh
was estimated to be twice that in the larger nearby city of Glasgow, where
a higher proportion of young adults currently injected drugs. Knowledge of
the high prevalence of HIV in Edinburgh IDU (19.3%), the prescribing of
oral substitutes, and counselling by doctors and drug workers are perceived
reasons for the reduction in the prevalence of injecting which has occurred
in Edinburgh in recent years. Such measures need to be continued to
encourage further reduction of injecting.
ARTICLES
Estimation of injecting drug users in the City of Edinburgh, Scotland, and number infected with human immunodeficiency virus
City Hospital, Edinburgh, UK.
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  M. Hickman, V. Higgins, V. Hope, M. Bellis, K. Tilling, A. Walker, and J. Henry Injecting drug use in Brighton, Liverpool, and London: best estimates of prevalence and coverage of public health indicators J. Epidemiol. Community Health, September 1, 2004; 58(9): 766 - 771. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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