Integrated Bio-behavioral Survey (IBBS) among Injecting Drug Users in the Kathmandu Valley – 2007

Abstract

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The National Center for AIDS and STD Control (NCASC), Nepal has developed a comprehensive National Surveillance Plan for HIV and AIDS that includes Integrated Biological and Behavioral Surveys (IBBS) which are conducted at regular intervals among most at risk populations (MARPs). These surveillance studies are aimed at assessing health risk behaviors and measuring the prevalence of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) among MARPs, as well as monitoring trends in the epidemic to inform the HIV response in Nepal.

The IBBS is conducted by NCASC with technical and financial support from Family Health International/Nepal (FHI) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The MARPs which are currently the focal points of IBBS are injecting drug users (IDUs), female sex workers (FSWs) and men who have sex with men (MSM).

This report details the findings of the third round of IBBS conducted among 300 male IDUs in the Kathmandu Valley. The primary objective of this study was to collect strategic information to analyze trends in risk behavior and HIV and STIs among IDUs.