Lessons Learned: A Qualitative Study of Integrated Care for HIVInfected Injecting Drug Users in Lviv, Ukraine

Of an estimated 170,000 individuals in Ukraine living with HIV, approximately 60% are injecting drug users (IDUs). Despite demonstrated need for increased access to both antiretroviral therapy (ART) and opioid substitution therapy (OST) in Ukraine, integrated, comprehensive care for HIV-infected IDUs remains limited. For this study, semi-structured interviews with 15 healthcare staff were conducted at the Lviv Regional AIDS Center. These interviews explored the perspectives of the AIDS Center’s integrated ART and OST program staff on patient care-seeking behavior as well as potential barriers to treatment for HIV-infected IDUs. Findings from this single-site, qualitative study highlight themes such as adherence, the value of support services, and the continued discrimination of IDUs by local community members. This study offers useful insights from healthcare providers on the efficacy of co-located care for HIV-infected IDUs in Lviv, as well as valuable suggestions for improving services for this patient population.