Russia (2009): HIV and Overdose Prevention Study of Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) in Ekaterinburg and St. Petersburg, Russian Federation, Round 1

The purpose of the 2009 survey among IDUs in Ekaterinburg and St. Petersburg was to collect baseline data on the prevalence of overdosing among IDUs, their awareness of overdose-prevention measures and treatment techniques, their experience with medical services when being treated for overdose as well as their HIV-risk and health-seeking behaviors, their determinants of behaviour and exposure to PSI activities. Both in Ekaterinburg and St. Petersburg respondents were recruited through respondent-driven sampling (RDS). It was recommended to select representatives of various sub-groups of IDUs, i.e. males and females; employed and unemployed; clients and non-clients of HIV prevention projects. The length of experience with injecting drug use is also a criterion for IDU to be selected as a seed for this study. In total, 702 IDUs, who have been involved in injecting behavior during the past year, were interviewed. Respondents were recruited and interviewed with assistance from local NGOs. Interviewers from NGOs were supervised and the collected data cleaned and put into electronic format by the WorkLine Research, professional survey agency.