PSI

The countries that comprise the Central Asia region have diverse economies, ethnicities and geography. But many share in a rapidly expanding HIV epidemic – fueled by injecting drug use (IDU). For example, it’s estimated that 3% of the population in Kazakhstan – 450,000 people – inject drugs, and 80% of those living with HIV were infected through IDU. 1

PSI/Central Asia began implementing HIV prevention and drug reduction programs in 2002 for Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan (closed in 2008). PSI/Central Asia works with most-at-risk populations including injecting-drug users (IDUs), sex workers (SWs), opiate drug-using SWs, clients of SWs, and at-risk youth and adolescents. In 2007, PSI expanded to include family planning projects in vulnerable areas of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. PSI left Uzbekistan in 2008.

Over the last four years, PSI has promoted healthier behaviors to more than 217,000 at-risk youth and thousands of IDUs and SWs in high-risk sites along major opiate trafficking routes.

1. 1. Source: World Health Organization, HIV/AIDS in Kazakhstan.

Health Areas

HIV

Health Impact

In 2008, PSI/Central Asia estimates that its programs resulted in a total gain of 3,647 DALYs 1 or years of healthy lives.

1. 1. The DALY is a widely-used, credible metric that was first developed by the World Bank and is now routinely relied upon in the public health community.

Health Interventions

• Injecting Drug Users
• Sex Workers
• Family Planning/HIV Integration
• Male Condom

Improving Health in Asia / Pacific

HIV

PSI/Central Asia is involved with two large regional projects funded by USAID:

Central Asian Program on AIDS Control in Vulnerable Populations (CAPACITY): Young people living along main drug trafficking routes are at high risk of becoming IDUs. Many of those who inject drugs say peer pressure was the main reason they started. This program aims to prevent young people from starting.

Drug Demand Reduction Program: With key partner, the Alliance for Open Society International, PSI challenges negative peer pressure to inject drugs with positive peer education. Peer educators are perceived to be credible sources of information and support because they either have family/friends who use or live in communities with high drug activity.

PSI also has projects in the region supported by UNICEF, the Asian Development Bank, the Dutch Government and the World Bank.

Reproductive Health/Family Planning

Through support from USAID, PSI/Central Asia improves reproductive health and family planning services in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Social marketing strategies bring improved access to products and services for rural women. And major project activities increase family planning capacity of village-level health centers and increase informed demand for products through peer education.

Condom Social Marketing

PSI/Central Asia uses commercial marketing techniques to build informed demand for high-quality condoms among high-risk groups. PSI's “Favorite” condoms have been marketed to vulnerable groups since 2002. PSI works with commercial distribution and wholesale partners to provide those most at risk of HIV with access to high quality, affordable condoms.

Education is crucial in the success of these efforts. PSI educates those at high risk about how to distinguish high-quality condoms from alternatives that don’t offer the highest rates of protection. Education also stresses the importance of correct and consistent condom use and how to evaluate condom packaging, expiration dates, and potential product flaws.

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