DRIVE-TB

General Information

Fullname: Towards tuberculosis elimination among people who inject drugs: evaluation of a community-based intervention in Vietnam

Donors:

National Agency for AIDS Research - Emergent Infectious Diseases (ANRS-MIE)
University Montpellier, France
New York University, USA

Period: 9/2023 - 2025

Location: Hai Phong city

Implementer: Coastal Region Office

According to data from the Vietnam National Tuberculosis Program in 2023, the estimated number of TB patients co-infected with HIV is around 4,300 people. The risk factors for TB recurrence and reinfection in HIV/TB co-infected patients include non-adherence to combined HIV treatment, poor medical care conditions, epidemiological factors, TB bacteria strains adapted to immunocompromised patients, etc. The likelihood of TB infection in people with HIV is 50%, which is 10 to 30 times higher than in non-infected individuals. Therefore, coordination between TB and HIV prevention and control efforts is crucial for the early detection and treatment of co-infected patients. It can extend their lifespan, improve their quality of life and reduce transmission to the community.

To advance the goal of Ending TB, SCDI is implementing the DRIVE TB project, which evaluates the efficacy of community-based interventions among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Hai Phong. Implementation of DRIVE TB is facilitated by involvement of core members from CBOs who previously spearheaded the DRIVE-HIV (Drug use and infectious in Hai Phong) study project from 2016 to 2020. The CBOs experienced in working with PWID have enhanced their capacity in project operations and maintain a close partnership with SCDI.

The project conducts TB screening for people who inject drugs using the Respondent Driven Sampling (RDS) method, combined with latent TB and HIV testing. Patients with active/latent TB will be referred to healthcare facilities for treatment, combined with ARV, methadone, and mental health services referrals. Additionally, participants are educated about TB through counselling on TB, latent TB, and TB transmission risk reduction practices conducted by CBO members. CBOs will closely follow up with clients, supporting and encouraging them to complete the TB treatment process. DRIVE TB is going on until 2025, aiming to reduce the risk of TB in the community of people who inject drugs toward the goal of ending TB by 2035.

2023 Key results

In 2023, 1179 people who inject drugs received free HIV testing and TB screening, and 40 patients with active tuberculosis and 91 individuals with latent tuberculosis were referred and supported for treatment adherence.