Issues related to Injecting drug use, HIV and gender, including regional and country experiences, projects and interventions

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Issues related to Injecting drug use, HIV and
gender, including regional and country
experiences, projects and interventions
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IDUs situation nowadays in RUSSIA

1. Police methods of resolving the problem
   pressure
2. Narcological help not available (narcological
   registration, ST-forbidden, detox,
   rehabilitation)
3. Main aim of every drug user is to avoid any state
   institutions( no help provided, discrimination
   guaranteed)
4. Only thing changed is related to HIV treatment
   nowadays it is admitted that drug users also have
   right for treatment

3
Situation with ARV-treatment what is declared
nowadays in RUSSIA

1. That there is a problem of HIV/AIDS, that there
   are PLWHAs, and they are mostly drug users.
2. That PLWHAs have a right to ARV, and that IDUs
   also have this right.
3. That the government has to ensure access to
   treatment.

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Real situation with ARV

• Medical system (interruptions, AIDS-centres
  system)
• comprehensive approach to care, support and
  adherence with special attention to the specific
  needs of marginalized groups, particularly IDUs(
  lack of information about treatment, myths,
  adherence problems depended on drug policy)

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Current Activities

• Informational work and trainings
• Increasing funding for treatment programs (peer
  counseling and outreach) and technical assistance
• Monitoring documenting patients needs, as a
  tool for advocacy, and monitoring the inclusion
  of peer counselors and outreach workers in the
  design and implementation of programs, as expert
  advisors who improve program effectiveness.
• Advocacy spreading information about this work.
  Minister of Health showed interest in reforming
  the treatment system, and has supported peer
  counseling in speeches.

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RESEARCH ON REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS OF WOMEN LIVING
WITH HIV IN RUSSIA

• Technical description of the quantitative
  research
• Urban population of Russia (18 and older)
• Coverage 7 Federal Districts
• Selection 1029 respondents
• Tasks of the research
• To reveal public attitude towards reproductive
  rights of HIV women
• To define which groups of the public are more or
  less loyal towards HIV women in order to further
  develop strategies of information work

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RESEARCH ON REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS OF WOMEN LIVING
WITH HIV IN RUSSIA

• Question What is your attitude towards
  childbearing by HIV women?
• Results
• 51,6 - HIV women should be prohibited to bear
  chilrdren
• 23,7 - in some cases HIV women can be deprived
  of this right
• 13,8 - this is their right
• 10,9 - no answer.

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RESEARCH ON REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS OF WOMEN LIVING
WITH HIV IN RUSSIA

• Question How do you think, can a HIVwoman bear
  a healthy child?
• Results
• 29,4 - she can not
• 17,4 - she can
• 12,7 - rather Yes than No
• 9,4 - no answer.

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RESEARCH ON REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS OF WOMEN LIVING
WITH HIV IN RUSSIA

• Question Access of HIV women to medical
  services
• Result
• ¾ considers that even usual physical/medical
  examination and other procedures shall be carried
  out for HIV women separately

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Nowadays activities in that field

• New movement of HIV-positive women in Russia and
  now also together with Ukraine
• (now it is informal)
• Fundraising for forum and registration of the
  movement

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Volgina Sasha, Russian Federation

• volginasasha_at_yandex.ru
• THANK YOU!