INTEGRATED BIOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIOURAL SURVEILLANCE (IBBS) SURVEY 2022: RISK BEHAVIOURS AMONG PEOPLE WHO INJECT DRUGS (PWID) IN MALAYSIA

Abstract

Background: People who inject drugs (PWID) is one of the key populations of the HIV epidemic in Malaysia. The objective of this study was to examine the risk behaviours and prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among PWID. Methods: Respondent driven sampling (RDS) was used to recruit PWID from July to December 2022. Online behavioural surveys and rapid HIV testing were completed by respondents. Results: In total, 824 respondents participated in this study. A total of 96.9% of respondents reported using clean needles and syringes at last injection. Most respondents (96.7%) also reported they had no problem getting access to sterile needles and syringes. Only 9.6% of respondents stated that they shared needles and syringes with friends in the past 3 months. A total of 54.6% of respondents have enrolled in the Methadone Maintenance Therapy (MMT). Regrettably, 90.0% of respondents who reported being sexually active had sex without using a condom. The HIV prevalence among PWID was 7.5%. Conclusion: In Malaysia, the decline in HIV prevalence among PWID over the past decade was remarkably significant and consistent with changes in risk behaviours among PWID due to increase in safe needles and syringes use. This necessitates ongoing surveillance and preventive measures in order to maintain the observed decreased trend. In addition, prevention initiatives should also focus to increase protective sexual behaviours among PWID. Since MMT has been used to treat opioids dependence, additional intervention strategies are also required to treat other kinds of drug addiction.