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. 2023 Aug 1;151:e138. doi: 10.1017/S0950268823001243

Table 1.

Characteristics of the included studies, HIV prevalence and behavioural risk factors in three key populations

References Year of study Study region/city Target population (sample size)/study design HIV case ascertainment (HIV prevalence) Significant behavioural risk factors
Go et al. [16]
 2003 Bac Ninh Province (semiurban) PWID (Male PWID aged 18–45) (299)
Community-based cross-sectional		 Serological Test (42.8%)
  • Duration of injection: OR: 4.51 (2.39, 8.50)
  • Pooling money to buy drugs: OR: 3.70 (1.99–6.90)
  • Number of new syringes (>1) you get at a time: OR: 0.36 (0.19–0.67)
Quan et al. [17]
 2004 Bac Ninh Province PWID (309)
(1) Cross-sectional
(2) Matched case–control study		 Serological Test (42.4%) Sharing drugs:
  • Frontloading, Yes OR: 2.75 (1.17–4.33)
Nguyen et al. [8]
 2002–2004 4 border provinces: Lai Chau, An Giang, Dong Tap, and Kien Giang
 PWID (2023)
FSW (1391)
Cross-sectional
 Serological Test
PWID: 4–36%
Street-based FSW: 0–24.3%
Karaoke-based FSW: 0–16.5%		 PWID sample
  • Multiperson use of injecting equipment: OR: 7.3 (2.3–12.3)
  • Having sex with non-regular partners or FSW: OR: 3.4 (1.4–8.5)
FSW sample
  • Inconsistent condom use: OR: 5.3 (2.4–8.2)
  • Injecting drug use: OR: 7.8, 95%CI not available
  • Mobility (working in other provinces or abroad): OR: 3.0, 95%CI not available
Tran et al. (18)
 2002 Long-an province
 PWID (aged 14–29) (248)
Cross-sectional		 Serological Test (32%)
  • Injecting in another city: OR: 1.69 (0.92, 2.90)
  • Multiperson use of needles: OR: 1.91 (0.92, 3.96)
Nguyen et al. [19]
 1999 Hai Phong
 PWID (319)
Cross-sectional		 Serological Test (74%)
  • Frequency of drug use:
    • 31 times per month, OR: 2.37 (1.04, 5.42)
  • Needle sharing: Yes, OR: 4.12 (1.82, 6.42)
Nguyen et al. [20]
 1997–1998 Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) PWID (518)
  • On the street (218)
  • In a rehab centre: (300)
Cross-sectional
 Serological Test
  • PWID in the street: 12% (1998 data)
  • PWID in the rehab centre: 13.3% (1997 data)
 Street sample
  • Being in the street
OR: 2.07 (1.04, 4.17)
  • Sharing drug pots: OR: 2.20 (1.23, 3.17)
Rehab sample
  • Being injected by drug dealers: OR: 2.90 (1.54, 5.46)
Nguyen et al. [21]
 2014 Ba Ria- Vung Tau (Southern province) FSW (aged18+) (420)
Community-based cross-sectional		 Serological Test (2.6%)
  • Clients injecting drugs:
Yes, OR: 10.26 (1.65, 63.88)
  • Having anal sex (past month)
Yes, OR: 5.84 (1.04, 32.78)
Le et al. [22]
 2009 10 provinces:
4 northern; 2 central; and 4 southern provinces		 FSW (aged18+) (5298)
Cross-sectional
 Serological Test
HIV rates raging 0.3–23%
(FSWs in large cities: >10%)		 High HIV provinces
  • Drug use:
    • Non-injecting drugs, OR: 1.78 (1.16, 2.74)
    • Injecting, OR: 3.44 (2.32, 4.56)
  • Consistent condom usage:
    Yes, OR: 0.71 (0.52, 0.98)
    Low HIV provinces
  • Drug use: Injecting drugs, OR: 22.05 (12.00, 32.10)
  • Inconsistent condom use: OR: 1.11 (0.694, 1.526)
  • Negotiate sex on street (street-based FSW): Yes, OR: 1.81(1.11, 2.95)
Tran et al. [23]
 2006–2007 5 provinces in Mekong Delta Region): Ben Tre, Hau Giang, Kien Giang, Tien Giang, and Vinh Long FSW (1996)
- Street-based (SSW): 339
- Establishment-based (ESW): 1657
Cross-sectional		 Serological Test
(Average: 2.1%)
-SSWs:3.8%
-ESWs: 1.8%
  • Inconsistent condom use: OR: 2.08 (0.97, 3.19)
Nguyen et al. [24]
 2003 Soc Trang province
(in Mekong Delta)		 FSW (406)
*395 provided biological samples
Cross-sectional		 Serological Test
(3.3%)
  • Ever using illicit drugs: Yes, OR: 87.3 (10.1, 164.5)
  • Direct sex work: Yes, OR: 15.1 (1.14–200.4)
  • Contraceptive method: Withdrawal: OR 0.07 (0.006–0.90)
Thuong et al. [25]
 2002–2003 5 border provinces:
Lai Chau, Quang Tri, Dong Thap,
An Giang, and Kien Giang		 FSW (911)
Cross-sectional
 Serological Test
(Average: 4.5%)
Prevalence ranging 1% -7% in different provinces
  • Number of clients:
    • ≥ 9/week, OR: 2.80 (1.19, 6.59)
Tran et al. [26]
 2002 Hanoi FSW (400)
Cross-sectional
 Serological Test
(12%)
  • Borrowing used injecting equipment: Yes, OR: 32 (9.2, 54.8)
  • Condom use: not always with regular clients, OR: 7.7 (2.5, 12.9)
Nguyen et al. [27]
 2000 Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) FSW (398)
Cross-sectional		 Serological Test
(16.3%)
  • Injecting drug use: OR: 101.30 (33.55, 169.05)
Nguyen et al. [28]
 2010–2012 Southern Vietnam (8 provinces): Tay Ninh, Dong Nai, Ba Ria-Vung Tau,
Ben Tre, in Vinh Long, Dong Thap, Hau Giang, and Soc Trang
 MSM (2768)
Cross-sectional
 Serological Test
(Average: 2.6%)
Rates ranging 0% - 8.64% in different provinces
  • Recreational drug use:
    • Previously, OR: 7.37 (2.22, 24.52)
    • Currently inhaling, OR: 19.29 (4.60, 80.92)
  • Injecting drug use: Currently injecting, OR: 63.58 (28.20, 98.96)
  • Types of drug use (ref. never used)
    • ATS, OR: 28.87 (5.10, 163.54)
    • Heroin, OR: 48.16 (25.23, 91.90)
  • Sexual role: Receptive, OR: 0.28 (0.13, 0.62)
  • Consistent condom use
    • Frequently, OR: 0.07 (0.01, 0.09)
    • Always, OR: 0.42 (0.08–2.22)
  • Engaged in sex with foreigners in last 12 months: Yes, OR: 9.24 (1.83, 46.64)
  • Consumed alcohol before anal sex in past 3 months: Sometimes, OR: 0.15 (0.06, 0.34)
Le et al. [7]
 2009–2010 Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) MSM (399)
Cross-sectional
 Serological Test
(14.8%)
  • Sexual partners injecting drugs: Yes, OR: 2.24 (1.06, 4.73)
  • Having anal sex (past month): Yes, OR: 2.70 (1.10, 6.64)
Pham et al. [9] 2009 An Gian province MSM (381):
PWID-MSM (63) and non-PWID-MSM (318)
Cross-sectional		 Serological Test
(14.8%)
  • PWID-MSM (20.6%)
  • Non-PWID-MSM (3.5%)
  • Injecting drugs: OR: 2.88 (1.12, 4.64)
  • Unprotected sex with FSW (in past 12 months): Yes, OR: 4.88 (1.91, 7.85)
Nguyen et al. [29]
 2004 HCMC MSM (599)
Cross-sectional
 Serological Test (8%), ranging from 7% to 33%
  • Selling sex, OR: 8.61 (1.20, 61.69)
  • Injecting drugs in last 12 months, OR: 30.35 (6.49, 54.21)
  • Having more than 5 male sex partners in last month, OR: 2.43 (1.14, 5.17)