This report was prepared on behalf of the reference Group to the United Nations on HIV and Injecting Drug Use. It summarises the existing peer reviewed and grey literature describing evidence on the nature and degree of risks and experiences of women who inject drugs and women whose partners inject.
A focus on injecting women is important for many reasons including their significantly higher mortality rates, increased likelihood of facing injection related problems, faster progression from first use to dependence, higher rates of HIV and increased risky injection and/or sexual risk behaviours. Further, injection drug use (IDU) is often seen as contrary to the socially derived roles of women as mothers, partners and caretakers leaving, female IDU to face greater stigma, risks and experience a range of specific harms at higher levels than male IDU.
This report describes the nature of these issues and explores how women enter into drug use, how they use drugs, the relationships that shape and drive their drug use and their experiences in accessing services and treatment.
To view the full report follow the link here > Women who inject drugs: A review of their risks, experiences and needs
