Dc. Des Jarlais et al., HIV incidence among injection drug users in New York City, 1992-1997: Evidence for a declining epidemic, AM J PUB HE, 90(3), 2000, pp. 352-359
Citations number
33
Categorie Soggetti
Public Health & Health Care Science","Envirnomentale Medicine & Public Health","Medical Research General Topics
Objectives. We assessed recent (1992-1997) HIV incidence in the large HIV e
pidemic among injection drug users in New York City.
Methods. Data were compiled from 10 separate studies (N=4979), including 6
cohort studies, 2 "repeat service user" studies, and 2 analyses of voluntar
y HIV testing and counseling services within drug treatment programs.
Results. In the 10 studies, 52 seroconversions were found in 6344 person-ye
ars at risk. The observed incidence rates among the 10 studies were all wit
hin a narrow range, from 0 per 100 person-years at risk to 2.95 per 100 per
son-years at risk. In 9 of the 10 studies, the observed incidence rate was
less than 2 per 100 person-years at risk. The weighted average incidence ra
te was 0.7 per 100 person-years at risk.
Conclusions. The recent incidence rate in New York City is quite low for a
high-seroprevalence population of injection drug users. The very large HIV
epidemic among injection drug users in New York City appears to have entere
d a "declining phase," characterized by low incidence and declining prevale
nce. The data suggest that very large high-seroprevalence HIV epidemics may
be "reversed.".