Lower injection-related HIV-1 risk associated with participation in a harm reduction program in Kazan, Russia

This study was carried out to investigate the extent of unsafe practices associated with participation in a harm reduction program in Kazan, Russian Federation. In this cross-sectional study a convenience sample of active drug injectors encountered by the field outreach teams was interviewed. Demographic data and information on injection drug use were obtained using a structured survey instrument. Comparisons between program clients and newly encountered individuals not yet engaged by the program were made. Clients were divided into four groups based on the duration and intensity of their interaction with the program. Clients were found to be less likely than newly encountered injectors to give away or use previously used syringes, more likely to have used a new syringe the last time they injected with others, and more likely to be able to anticipate their need to acquire new syringes. However, the sharing of nonsyringe injection paraphernalia was no different between clients and newly encountered injectors. Despite the limitations of a cross-sectional study, it appears that engagement with the harm reduction program in Kazan was associated with reduction in many aspects of unsafe injecting.