Roma, HIV infection and high risk behavior. A brief review of the literature and the results of a rapid assessment of the situation in two Russian regions

Plavinskiy S. L.
North-West State Medical University, St.Petersburg

Eroshina K. M.
Open Health Institute, Moscow

Bobrik A. V.
Open Health Institute, Moscow

The paper assessed the level of knowledge about the transmission and prevention of HIV infection of Roma groups from the two regions of the Russian Federation. It concludes that intravenous drug use was prevalent only among respondents in Pskov, where a quarter of the respondents reported the practise. It is stated that the interviewed group has serious social and economic problems – poor education, high unemployment, but has a relatively high level of knowledge about HIV, and in Tver – a relatively favorable risk profile (a small number of sexual partners, low levels of mobility and drug use).

STI, HIV, community, sexual behavior, interview, drugs, socio-economic problems, high risk behavior