Theme: Models of Care Year: 2025
Background:
The possibilities for including people who inject drugs in the design and implementation of needle-syringe programs (NSP) are many, but opportunities are rarely realised. This multi-country study conducted as part of Unitaid’s hepatitis C (HCV) portfolio investment in 10 low and middle-income countries (LMIC) focuses on community-led research to centre the values and preferences of community when introducing low dead-space syringes/needles (LDSS/N) suited to local contexts. This presentation will be delivered by community researchers implementing this study in Armenia and Georgia.
Description of model of care/intervention/program:
Community researchers identified and trained in each focal country were responsible for recruitment, community values and preferences data collection, and co-conducting data analysis to inform needle-syringe programming and knowledge mobilisation within their communities. Following a six-week piloting of identified LDSS/N options, preferred equipment will be distributed to all NSP clients at participating sites and uptake assessed.
Effectiveness:
Four community researchers held 13 focus group discussions with 116 participants in Yerevan, Armenia, and the Tbilisi region, Georgia, and identified that poor quality of currently distributed equipment is a key barrier to effective harm minimisation. Insights into injecting equipment access and utility were able to determine communities’ attitudes towards new LDSS/N options and their harm reduction benefits, and preferred LDSS/N options for distribution.
Conclusion and next steps:
Our experience shows that including people who inject drugs in programs that matter to them is essential to achieving intended outcomes. This project demonstrates how community-led research acts as a critical tool for empowerment and meaningful change in the lives of people who use drugs. Collaboration between community networks and community-led monitoring activities can empower people who inject drugs in LMICs to represent community interests at local and global decision making forums beyond the life of this study.
Disclosure of Interest Statement:
This study is supported by UNITAID, managed by MdM.
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