Theruwani N Dissanayake* and Chitlada Areesantichai
Background: There were many risk factors mentioned among substances users, specially HIV/ AIDS, Hepatitis C and other transmission of infectious disease which impact on health and social complications are not known. Heroin user’s sexual risk behaviors and addiction levels can cause adverse results for users as well as society. The purpose of this study is to assess the sexual risk behaviors of heroin used in prisoners, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Further, this study allows us to identify the severity of drug addiction levels.
Methods: The cross sectional study was conducted in Welikada prison, Colombo, Sri Lanka among 334 heroin used prisoners. Purposive sampling method was used as sampling technique. It was consisted of all the heroin users who age group more than 18 years. Administrated questionnaire was used for face to face interview.
Results: The age range of participants was 22-58 years and average of age was 37.85 ± 6.1 years. The age was divided into two groups (young adult (22-40) and middle age adults (41-58). The most of heroin users were 22-40 years of age (73. 1%). Most of them were received grade 5 to 10 of education (70%). 99% of heroin users were not done in permanent occupation (labors) and 55.7% of their income in between 20000 to 30000 Sri Lankan rupees (1 rupee=154 USD). Majority of two age groups consisted in Sinhalese (79.6%), Buddhist (50.3%) and from Colombo district (59.3%). Both age group had experienced of sexual activities their lifetime (93.9% and 94.4% respectively). Out of 78.2% young adults were had experienced of multiple partners and comparing middle age adult group, 75.3% had same experienced. 98.5% were severely addictive personals. Among young adults 98.4% and 98.9% of middle age adults were affected severely.
Conclusion: However, the high prevalence risk-taking sexual behavior and severely addiction is a concern. There is an urgent need to develop effective laws and policies, treatment strategies and to control and eliminate threat in Sri Lanka.
