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Change in attitudes and knowledge of problem drug use and harm reduction among a community cohort in Kabul, Afghanistan

Year: 2016

Type: article

Abstract: This pre-post evaluation aimed to measure changes in knowledge and attitudes towards drug users among community representatives in Kabul, Afghanistan, over a period of expansion of harm reduction and drug dependence programming.A convenience sample of 160 professionals aged 18+ years completed interview questionnaires in 2007 and 2009.Views endorsing programme quality and the provision of condoms, infection counselling/testing and needle/syringe distribution increased significantly over the 2-year period.In 13 of 38 statements, there was a substantial (> 10%) change in agreement level, most commonly among men and medical professionals.Attitudes concerning support of drug users remained largely positive, with substantial attitude changes in some subgroups of the population.Further community education through the media and a more cohesive government drug policy may be needed to strengthen community support for harm reduction/drug treatment in Afghanistan.‫الفئات‬ ‫ـدى‬ ‫إحـ‬ ‫ـدى‬ ‫لـ‬ ‫ـا‬ ‫أرضارهـ‬ ‫ـن‬ ‫مـ‬ ‫ـدّ‬ ‫واحلـ‬ ‫ـدرات‬ ‫املخـ‬ ‫ـي‬ ‫تعاطـ‬ ‫ـكلة‬ ‫بمشـ‬ ‫ـة‬ ‫املتعلقـ‬ ‫ـارف‬ ‫واملعـ‬ ‫ـات‬ ‫االجتاهـ‬ ‫ـى‬ ‫عـ‬ ‫ـرأ‬ ‫طـ‬ ‫ـذي‬ ‫الـ‬ ‫ـر‬ ‫التغـ‬ ‫ـتان‬ ‫بأفغانسـ‬ ‫كابول‬ ‫يف‬ ‫ـة‬ ‫املجتمعيـ‬ ‫فالوف‬ ‫ديفيد‬ ‫سرتاثدي،‬ ‫ستيفاين‬ ‫أور،‬ ‫مارك‬ ‫فيكرت،‬ ‫كاتيا‬ ‫النارص،‬ ‫عبد‬ ‫ستانيكزاي،‬ ‫رازا‬ ‫م.‬ ‫تود،‬ ‫كاثرين‬ ‫ـي‬ ‫متعاطـ‬ ‫ـاه‬ ‫جتـ‬ ‫ـات‬ ‫واالجتاهـ‬ ‫ـارف‬ ‫املعـ‬ ‫ـى‬ ‫عـ‬ ‫ـرأت‬ ‫طـ‬ ‫ـي‬ ‫التـ‬ ‫ـرات‬ ‫التغـ‬ ‫ـاس‬

Source: Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal

DOI: 10.26719/2016.22.3.183

Authors: Catherine Todd, Mohammad Stanekzai, Abdul Nasir, Mark Orr, Steffanie Strathdee, David Vlahov

Institutions: Columbia University, Health Protection and Research Organisation, New York Academy of Medicine, University of California San Diego

Language: English

Topic: HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: Doris Duke Charitable Foundation