HIV status and changes in risk behaviour among intravenous drug users in Stockholm 1987-1988

An HIV study initiated in January 1987 is being conducted at the Remand Prison in Stockholm, Sweden, in order to follow HIV seroprevalence and HIV risk behaviour among intravenous drug users (IVDUs) in Stockholm. Up to December 1988 1152 arrested and detained IVDUs were interviewed about risk behaviour and tested for HIV antibodies. Amphetamine, which is the main IVDUs drug used intravenously in Stockholm, was used by 958 of these, while heroin was used by 194. HIV seroprevalence was 12.6%: 5.9% among the amphetamine and 45.5% among the heroin users. The HIV incidence was calculated to be 0.9% in 1987 and 1.2% in 1988, higher for amphetamine than for heroin users. Some risk reduction was reported regarding needle sharing, but less so regarding sexual behaviour.