HIV and syphilis seroprevalence and related unsafe sexual behaviours among people who inject drugs in Georgia: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE

To provide the first national estimate of syphilis prevalence among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Georgia, alongside updated HIV prevalence and associated risk behaviours, and to identify factors associated with infection.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional Integrated Bio-Behavioural Surveillance Survey conducted in 2022. Respondent-driven sampling was used to recruit PWID. Data were collected through standardised face-to-face interviews using structured questionnaires, and venous blood samples were collected for laboratory testing. HIV was diagnosed by serology, and syphilis was assessed using a two-step algorithm (Rapid Plasma Reagin screening with Treponema pallidum haemagglutination assay confirmation). Logistic regression models were applied to identify correlates of infection.

SETTING

The study was conducted in community settings across seven major cities of Georgia that represent the main urban centres with large PWID populations. Survey implementation was supported by local peer-led and community-based harm reduction organisations with established trust and access to PWID networks, facilitating participant recruitment and ensuring feasibility.

RESULTS

HIV prevalence was 0.9% and syphilis prevalence 2.1%. Coinfection with HIV and syphilis was observed in 0.2% of participants. HIV infection was significantly associated with longer duration of injection drug use (adjusted OR (aOR) 0.2; 95% CI 0.5 to 0.9) and lack of access to HIV prevention services (aOR 2.8; 95% CI 1.1 to 7.8). Syphilis prevalence was significantly lower among PWID who had not had casual or paid sex in the past year (OR 0.06; 95% CI 0.02 to 0.2). Unsafe sexual behaviours were common: 25.8% reported sex with a casual partner in the past year, 12.3% reported a paid partner, and only around half used condoms consistently with these partners.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite a relatively low HIV prevalence, syphilis prevalence among PWID in Georgia highlights ongoing sexual risk behaviours. Current harm reduction programmes primarily address injection-related risks, with limited sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention efforts. Expanding sexual health interventions within harm reduction services, including STI screening, structured counselling and safe sex education, is essential to reduce STI transmission and improve health outcomes among PWID.