Young and invisible: an explanatory model for service engagement by people who inject drugs in India

IntroductionThe HIV epidemic in India is concentrated in key populations such as people who inject drugs (PWID). New HIV infections are high among young PWID ([≤] 30 years of age), who are hard to engage in services. We assessed perspectives of young PWID across three Indian cities representing historic and emerging drug use epidemics to guide development of youth-specific services. MethodsWe conducted focus group discussions (FGDs) with PWID (ages 18-35 years) and staff at venues offering services to PWID in three cities (Aizawl and Imphal, Northeast India and Amritsar, Northwest India). A semi-structured interview guide was used to elicit participants narratives on injection initiation experiences, motivating factors and barriers to seeking harm-reduction services, service-delivery gaps, and recommendations to promote engagement. Thematic analysis was used to develop an explanatory model for engagement for each temporal stage across the injection continuum: (a) pre-injection initiation, (b) peri-injection initiation and (c) established injection behavior. Results43 PWID (81% male, 19% female) and 10 staff members participated in FGDs. Injection initiation followed non-injection opioid dependence. Lack of services for non-injection opioid dependence was a key gap in the pre-injection initiation phase. Lack of knowledge and reliance on informal sources for injecting equipment were key reasons for non-engagement in the peri-injection phase. Additionally, low risk perception resulted in low motivation to seek services. Psychosocial and structural factors shaped engagement after established injection. Housing and food insecurity, and stigma disproportionately affected female PWID while lack of confidential adolescent friendly services impeded engagement by adolescent PWID. ConclusionsDevelopment of youth-specific services for young PWID in India will need to address unique vulnerabilities and service gaps along each stage of the injection continuum. Scaling-up of tailored services is needed for young female PWID and adolescents, including interventions that prevent injection initiation and provision of confidential harm-reduction services. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONSO_LIThe findings in this study represent some of the first qualitative data to explore engagement with services, specifically among young PWID in India. C_LIO_LIThe study was conducted in multiple cities representing older and emerging injection drug use epidemics. The inclusion of multiple cities adds strength to the findings. C_LIO_LIWe did not recruit adolescent PWID due to constraints rendered by laws pertaining to informed consent in India. C_LIO_LIAlthough all PWID we recruited had initiated injection in adolescence or young adulthood, the preponderance of older PWID in our study limits the conclusions we can draw about the needs of adolescent PWID. C_LI