Jenny Iversen1, Kimberly Page, Annie Madden, Lisa Maher. 1. *Viral Hepatitis Epidemiology and Prevention Program, The Kirby Institute, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Australia, Sydney; †Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Preventive Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM; and ‡Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users League (AIVL), Canberra.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although an estimated 3.5 million women inject drugs globally, women are outnumbered 4 to one by men who inject drugs and are often ignored or overlooked in the development and delivery of prevention and treatment services for this population. This study aimed to identify key comorbidities prevalent among women who inject drugs (WWID), consider factors that contribute to vulnerability of this population, and examine implications for prevention and treatment. METHODS: The literature was reviewed to examine the specific challenges and needs of WWID. We searched health-related bibliographic databases and grey literature to identify studies conducted among WWID and studies conducted among people who inject drugs (PWID), where results were disaggregated by gender and policies/guidelines/reports relevant to WWID. RESULTS: WWID face a range of unique, gender-specific, and often additional challenges and barriers. The lack of a targeted focus on WWID by prevention and treatment services and harm-reduction programs increases women's vulnerability to a range of health-related harms, including blood-borne viral and sexually transmitted infections, injection-related injuries, mental health issues, physical and sexual violence, poor sexual and reproductive health, issues in relation to childbearing and child care, and pervasive stigma and discrimination. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to improve the collection and reporting of gender-disaggregated data on prevalence of key infections and prevention and treatment service access and program coverage. Women-focussed services and integrating gender equity and human rights into the harm-reduction programming will be a prerequisite if improvements in the health, safety, and well-being of this often invisible and highly vulnerable population are to be achieved.
BACKGROUND: Although an estimated 3.5 million women inject drugs globally, women are outnumbered 4 to one by men who inject drugs and are often ignored or overlooked in the development and delivery of prevention and treatment services for this population. This study aimed to identify key comorbidities prevalent among women who inject drugs (WWID), consider factors that contribute to vulnerability of this population, and examine implications for prevention and treatment. METHODS: The literature was reviewed to examine the specific challenges and needs of WWID. We searched health-related bibliographic databases and grey literature to identify studies conducted among WWID and studies conducted among people who inject drugs (PWID), where results were disaggregated by gender and policies/guidelines/reports relevant to WWID. RESULTS: WWID face a range of unique, gender-specific, and often additional challenges and barriers. The lack of a targeted focus on WWID by prevention and treatment services and harm-reduction programs increases women's vulnerability to a range of health-related harms, including blood-borne viral and sexually transmitted infections, injection-related injuries, mental health issues, physical and sexual violence, poor sexual and reproductive health, issues in relation to childbearing and child care, and pervasive stigma and discrimination. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to improve the collection and reporting of gender-disaggregated data on prevalence of key infections and prevention and treatment service access and program coverage. Women-focussed services and integrating gender equity and human rights into the harm-reduction programming will be a prerequisite if improvements in the health, safety, and well-being of this often invisible and highly vulnerable population are to be achieved.
Authors: Vera Frajzyngier; Alan Neaigus; V Anna Gyarmathy; Maureen Miller; Samuel R Friedman Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2007-02-05 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: Steffanie A Strathdee; M Latka; J Campbell; P T O'Driscoll; E T Golub; F Kapadia; R A Pollini; R S Garfein; D L Thomas; H Hagan Journal: Clin Infect Dis Date: 2005-04-15 Impact factor: 9.079
Authors: Lisa Maher; Bin Jalaludin; Kerry G Chant; Rohan Jayasuriya; Tim Sladden; John M Kaldor; Penny L Sargent Journal: Addiction Date: 2006-10 Impact factor: 6.526
Authors: Cari L Miller; Evan Wood; Patricia M Spittal; Kathy Li; James C Frankish; Paula Braitstein; Julio S G Montaner; Martin T Schechter Journal: J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Date: 2004-06-01 Impact factor: 3.731
Authors: Allison M McFall; Sunil S Solomon; Greg M Lucas; David D Celentano; Aylur K Srikrishnan; Muniratnam S Kumar; Shruti H Mehta Journal: Addiction Date: 2017-04-18 Impact factor: 6.526
Authors: Louise Geddes; Jenny Iversen; Handan Wand; Aryan Esmaeili; Judith Tsui; Margaret Hellard; Gregory Dore; Jason Grebely; Paul Dietze; Julie Bruneau; Maria Prins; Megan D Morris; Naglaa H Shoukry; Andrew R Lloyd; Arthur Y Kim; Georg Lauer; Andrea L Cox; Kimberly Page; Lisa Maher Journal: Clin Infect Dis Date: 2020-01-01 Impact factor: 9.079
Authors: Jade Boyd; Jennifer Lavalley; Sandra Czechaczek; Samara Mayer; Thomas Kerr; Lisa Maher; Ryan McNeil Journal: Int J Drug Policy Date: 2020-04-02
Authors: Kathryn E Lancaster; Hannah L F Cooper; Christopher R Browning; Carlos D Malvestutto; John F P Bridges; April M Young Journal: Subst Use Misuse Date: 2020-08-04 Impact factor: 2.164