A5025242551- HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk
- HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions
- Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
- Hepatitis C virus research
- HIV Research and Treatment
- Sex work and related issues
- Hepatitis B Virus Studies
- Homelessness and Social Issues
- HIV/AIDS drug development and treatment
- Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis
- Census and Population Estimation
- Anesthesia and Sedative Agents
- Health Literacy and Information Accessibility
- Pharmaceutical studies and practices
- Health and Conflict Studies
- Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment
- Immune Cell Function and Interaction
- Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments
- Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology
- Healthcare Systems and Reforms
- Data-Driven Disease Surveillance
- Crime, Illicit Activities, and Governance
- Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects
- Analytical Methods in Pharmaceuticals
University of Tartu
2013-2023
National Institute for Health Development
2006-2013
National Institutes of Health
2007-2011
We found a high prevalence of HIV among injecting drug users (IDU) 54% in Tallinn and 90% Kohtla Jarve, Estonia. Risk factors for included use the 'china white', being registered as an IDU at treatment clinic, sharing equipment with sex partners. Differences existed risk behaviour between cities. An urgent scale-up prevention is needed. It also important to explore how local 'risk environments' mediate transmission.
Design and methodsData from two cross-sectional surveys of injecting drug users (IDUs) recruited a syringe exchange program (N = 162, Study 1) or using respondent driven sampling 350, 2). Behavioral were administered; serum samples collected for HIV testing. Subjects categorized into new injectors (injecting ≤ 3 years) long-term > years).
Estonia has experienced an HIV epidemic among intravenous drug users (IDUs) with the highest per capita prevalence in Eastern Europe. We assessed effects of expanded syringe exchange programs (SEP) capital city, Tallinn, which estimated 10,000 IDUs. SEP implementation was monitored data from Estonian National Institute for Health Development. Respondent driven sampling (RDS) interview surveys testing were conducted Tallinn 2005, 2007 and 2009 (involving 350, 350 327 IDUs respectively)....
Estonia has rapidly expanding injection drug use (IDU) driven HIV/AIDS epidemic with the highest reported incidence rate and prevalence (1.3%) of HIV in European region. To evaluate feasibility IDU estimations based on routine nationwide data sources using capture-recapture methodology, provide estimates prevalence. IDUs were identified from Police, Health insurance fund, State reference laboratory sources. Poisson regression models fitted to observed data, interactions between replicate...
Background. A high copy number of CCL3L1, the most potent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-suppressive chemokine, associates with reduced HIV susceptibility. Whether CCL3L1 influences acquisition multiple blood-borne infections (eg, hepatitis C [HCV], HIV, and B [HBV] infections), which occur commonly among injection drug users (IDUs), is unknown. Methods. We determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction 374 Caucasian IDUs from Estonia; 285 were HCV positive, 208 177 57 negative....
Both syringe exchange programs (SEPs) and pharmacy sales of syringes are available in Estonia, though the current high incidence prevalence HIV among injection drug users (IDUs) Tallinn, Estonia requires large-scale implementation additional harm reduction as a matter great urgency. The aims this report were to compare risk behavior infection assess prevention needs IDUs who primarily use pharmacies their source sterile with SEPs Tallinn.A cross-sectional study using respondent-driven...
Abstract We used the findings from two, cross-sectional studies of HIV serostatus and risk behaviours to assess effects knowledge (relating sex injection drug use) among injecting users (IDUs). Respondent-driven sampling was simultaneously at two sites in Estonia (the capital Tallinn, second-largest city Ida-Virumaa County, Kohtla-Järve). The research tool an interviewer-administered survey. Biological samples were collected for testing. Participants categorised into three groups based on...
Objectives HIV/AIDS risk is embodied within multiple levels including structural and social levels. The aim of this study was to assess the effects neighbourhood characteristics on HIV prevalence among injection drug users (IDU) residing in area Tallinn, Estonia 2007. Methods A cross-sectional, multilevel design collecting individual-level data—a behaviour survey data self-reported residency antibody testing 350 IDU neighbourhood-level data—aggregate measures socio-demo-economic residential...
Introduction New injectors / younger drug users are an important population to target for intervention because they often at especially high risk of HIV and HCV infection. We examined prevalence gender differences in behavior among new injection-drug-users Tallinn, Estonia. Methods Respondent driven sampling (RDS) interview surveys testing were conducted Tallinn 2009, 2011 2013. classified "new injectors" as persons who reported their first injection occurring within three years the study...
In the context of established and emerging injection drug use epidemics, there is a need to prevent avert use. We tested hypothesis that an individual motivation skills building counselling, adapted enhanced from Hunt’s Break Cycle intervention targeting persons currently injecting drugs would lead reduction in initiation-related behaviours among PWID Tallinn, Estonia. For this quasi-experimental study, pre-post outcome measures included self-reported promoting (speaking positively about...
Injecting drugs for the first time almost always requires assistance from an experienced person who injects (PWID). While there has been moderate amount of research on PWID assist with injections, most this focused identifying characteristics injections. We do not have a formal model that describes how minority come to so, while majority never assist. Through comparison persons did or recently injections using data in Tallinn, Estonia (N = 286) and Staten Island, New York City 101), we...
Background Up to 90% HIV-1 positive intravenous drug users (IDUs) are co-infected with HCV. Although best recognized for its function as a major co-receptor cell entry of HIV, CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) has also been implicated in the pathogenesis HCV infection. Here, we investigated whether CCR5 haplotypes influence and seropositivity among 373 Caucasian IDUs from Estonia. Methods Of these IDUs, 56% 44% were HIV seropositive, respectively, 47% coinfected. 500 blood donors seronegative...
The influence of the diversity CCR5 on HIV susceptibility and disease progression has been clearly demonstrated but how variability this gene influences tropism is poorly understood. We investigated whether haplotypes are associated with in a Caucasian population.We evaluated 161 HIV-positive subjects cross-sectional study. were derived after genotyping 9 CCR2-CCR5 polymorphisms. subtype was determined by phylogenetic analysis using maximum likelihood method viral genotypic assay...