Next Priorities for Intervention in Kenya: Results from a Cohort Study of Drug Use, HIV and HCV Patterns in Five Urban Areas
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Date
2006Author
Ndetei, D M
Ongecha, F A
Malow, R M
Onyancha, J
Mutiso, V
Kokonya, D
Khasakhala, L
Odhiambo, G
Rosenberg, R
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
In Kenya, alcohol, cigarettes, Khat (miraa) and cannabis sativa, have
remained the most popular abused substance and have been linked to
increasing rates of HIV/HCV . This study’s objective was to identify the
types, frequency, and methods of substances used and their relationship to
HIV and HCV seroprevalence among substance abusers in five
representative Kenyan cities. Methods: Purposive and snow-ball sampling
was used. Among 1420 substance abusers, psychosocial and substance
use factors were assessed, with a subset of 120 tested for HIV and
Hepatitis C Viral (HCV) infection. Results: In five Kenya cities, the
highest oral daily consumption of the drugs was recorded in Malindi
(83.3%) and Mombasa (56.6%). Snorting and sniffing was used on a daily
basis mainly in Mombasa (85.0%) followed by Nakuru (72.7%) and
Nairobi (70.6%). Malindi exclusively practiced injection of drugs on a
daily basis with a one-day prevalence rate of 100.0%, followed by
Mombasa (86.5 %) and Nairobi (67.9%). Across the five cities, the most
prevalently substance abused was Alcohol (36.3%) followed by nicotine
(17.5%), Cannabis sativa (9.9%), Heroin ( 8.0%), Khat whose active
ingredient is Catha edulis (2.8%), and cocaine (2.2%) and the most
popular route of intake was oral (45.7%), nasal (38.7%) and injection
(10.4%). Of the 120 tested for HIV and HCV, approximately 61% were
seropositive for Hepatitis C and 42% for HIV and 85% were Injection Drug Users (IDUs). Interestingly, of these IDUs, 49.5% tested positive for
HIV and 70.29% tested positive for Hepatitis C (HepC). These results
support a relationship between IDU behavior and HIV/HepC and the
need for an IDU-focused prevention effort that would 1) integrate sexual
and injection behavior risk reduction, 2) identify and complement local
cultural strengths, and 3) link Kenya’s nascent democratic governance
initiatives with building the necessary IDU prevention infrastructure.
Citation
Ndetei, D. M., Ongecha, F. A., Malow, R. M., Onyancha, J., Mutiso, V., Kokonya, D., ... & Rosenberg, R. (2006). Next priorities for intervention in Kenya: results from a cohort study of drug use, HIV and HCV patterns in five urban areas. International Psychology Reporter, 10(1), 16-19.Publisher
University Of Nairobi
Collections
- Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) [10387]