Local Research

There is consistently new research being generated around HIV and hepatitis C and AVI has participated in many research projects. Here are some of the reports and articles that have resulted from this research.

HIV TREATMENT AND CARE

Vasarhelyi K, Brandson EK, Palmer AK, Fernandes KA, Zhang W, Moore DM, Montaner JS, Hogg RS. “Home is where the HAART is: an examination of factors affecting neighbourhood perceptions among people with HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral therapy.” AIDS Care, 2001 Feb; 23(2):245-5. CLICK HERE to read this paper.

Anema A, Weiser SD, Fernandes KA, Ding E, Brandson EK, Palmer A, Montaner JS, Hogg RS. “High prevalence of food insecurity among HIV-infected individuals receiving HAART in a resource-rich setting,” AIDS Care. 2011 Feb;23(2):221-30. CLICK HERE to read this paper.

Eyawo O, Fernandes KA, Brandson EK, Palmer A, Chan K, Lima VD, Harrigan RP, Montaner JS, Hogg RS. “Suboptimal use of HIV drug resistance testing in a universal health-care setting,” AIDS Care. 2011 Jan;23(1):42-51. CLICK HERE to read this paper.

Duncan KC, Reading C, Borwein AM, Murray MC, Palmer A, Michelow W, Samji H, Lima VD, Montaner JS, Hogg RS. “HIV incidence and prevalence among aboriginal peoples in Canada,” AIDS Behav. 2011 Jan;15(1):214-27. CLICK HERE to read this paper.

Racey CS, Zhang W, Brandson EK, Fernandes KA, Tzemis D, Harrigan PR, Montaner JS, Barrios R, Toy J, Hogg RS. “HIV antiviral drug resistance: patient comprehension,” AIDS Care. 2010 Jul;22(7):816-26.CLICK HERE to read this paper.

DRUG USE AND HARM REDUCTION

Andrew Ivsins, Clifton Chow, Scott Macdonald, Tim Stockwell, Kate Vallance, David C. Marsh, Warren Michelow, Cameron Duff (2012). An examination of injection drug use trends in Victoria and Vancouver, BC after the closure of Victoria's only fixed-site needle and syringe programme. International Journal of Drug Policy. Needle and syringe programmes (NSPs) have been established as effective harm reduction initiatives to reduce injection drug use (IDU)-related risk behaviours, including sharing needles. On May 31, 2008, Victoria, BC's only fixed site NSP was shut down due to community and political pressure. This study examines and compares IDU trends in Victoria with those in Vancouver, BC, a city which has not experienced any similar disruption of IDU-related public health measures. Click here to read the abstract.

Hobbs, Heather (2011). Streetlight People: Perspectives of Street Outreach Services Staff on the Loss of Harm Reduction Services in Victoria, BC. Unpublished Master's Thesis, University of Victoria. Click here to read this thesis.

Ivsins A, Roth E, Nakamura N, Krajden M, Fischer B. (June 2011). Uptake, benefits of and barriers to safer crack use kit (SCUK) distribution programmes in Victoria, Canada-A qualitative exploration. International Journal of Drug Policy. Read the abstract.

Zangger, Catherine. (2011) Distribute, Recover, Educate & Refer: A study examining the impact of the fixed site needle exchange closure on service delivery. Using statistical data and interviews, and the four harm reduction objectives as outlined by the policy document entitled “BC Harm Reduction Supply Services Policy and Guidelines” this reached aimed to highlight the limitations and strengths of both modes of service delivery: mobile and fixed. The findings suggest that each mode of service delivery allows access to different segments of the population but that one mode in itself is not sufficient to maximize needle exchange providers’ ability to accomplish their harm reduction mandate. CLICK HERE to read the report.

Joan MacNeil & Bernadette Pauly. "Needle exchange as a safe haven in an unsafe world." Drug and Alcohol Review (January 2011), 30, 26–32. The purpose of this paper is to describe the meaning of needle exchange programs from the perspectives of users who access such programs. CLICK HERE to read this paper.

Joan MacNeil & Bernadette Pauly. "Impact: A case study examining the closure of a large urban fixed site needle exchange in Canada." Harm Reduction Journal 2010, 7:11. This case study focuses on the consequences of the switch to mobile needle exchange services immediately after the closure of AVI's needle exchange and examines the impact of the closure on changes in risk behavior related to drug use, needle distribution and access to services. CLICK HERE to read this paper.

I-TRACK Special Study: Monitoring Trends in the Prevalence of HIV and Hepatitis C and Associated Risk Behaviours Among People Who Inject Drugs in Victoria, BC, Summary Report, December 2010. Vancouver Island Health Authority. CLICK HERE to read the report.

I-TRACK SURVEY: Monitoring Trends in the Prevalence of HIV, Hepatitis C, and Associated Risk Behaviours Among People Who Inject Drugs In Central and North Vancouver Island, Summary Report, March 2010. Vancouver Island Health Authority & Public Health Agency of Canada. CLICK HERE to read this report.

Ivsins, Andrew, Clifton Chow,David Marsh, Scott Macdonald, Tim Stockwell and Kate Vallance. "Drug use trends in Victoria and Vancouver, and changes in injection drug use after the closure of Victoria’s fixed site needle exchange," CARBC Bulletin, 2010. Click here to read the bulletin.

Benedikt Fischer & Christiane Allard. Feasibility Study on ‘Supervised Drug Consumption’ Options in the City of Victoria. Centre for Addictions Research of British Columbia (CARBC), University of Victoria. CLICK HERE to read this report.