People who inject drugs in Hermosillo, Sonora. A registration methodology

Abstract

Having estimations of the size of populations is critical to estimate universes of need, plan and evaluate interventions. Stigmatization and criminalization of drug use in Mexico makes pwid constitute a hard-to-reach population; however, they have a right to health and it is an obligation of the State to guarantee it, which includes designing effective actions to prevent aids. In Hermosillo, Sonora, the weight of hiv transmission via injecting drug use has gained prominence in the last decade; nevertheless, there are no estimations of pwid population size. In this paper we describe in detail how to build a mixed approach combining qualitative and quantitative techniques to estimate the population size of pwid in Hermosillo. We present recommendations to improve pwid registration systems in addiction treatment services and how to improve community harm reduction interventions in the city.