FINDINGS SURPRISE RESEARCHERS

Aids Higher Among Female Users Than Male Addicts

VANCOUVER (CP) - Female drug addicts in Vancouver's downtown east side are
becoming infected with the virus that causes AIDS at a rate more than 50
per cent higher than drug-using men, a new study has found.

The study, by researchers at B.C.'s Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, is
the first to show a group in the developed world with a higher rate of
infection for women than for men. "In most other cities, when you compare
male and female (drug users,) the infection rates in men are usually
higher," said Martin Schechter, a local AIDS researcher and one of the
authors of the study.

"These are people living side-by-side in the same neighbourhood. So for
(women) to have a 50-per-cent higher rate of infection - we find that quite
alarming."

Before this study, the only parts of the world with higher rates of
infection for women than men were developing countries in places such as
Africa and Southeast Asia.

Vancouver's downtown east side is one of the poorest and most drug-infested
neighbourhoods in Canada.

The study's authors and out-reach workers say women's high rates of
infection are likely due to their involvement in the sex trade and a lack
of power in their relationships with male partners that make it difficult
for them to insist on safe sexual practices and clean needles.

The findings are part of the Vancouver Injection Drug Users Study, a
long-term study of 1,400 heroin and cocaine users in the neighbourhood.

Researchers found that, since May 1996, 17 per cent of the uninfected women
in their study became infected with HIV, compared to only 11 per cent of
the men.

About two dozen chanting protesters with AIDS gathered outside the
constituency offices of Premier Ujjal Dosanjh last week, accusing the
government of stalling on funding to help victims of the disease.

Glen Hillson, spokesman for the group B.C. People with AIDS, said about one
third of HIV positive people in the province are struggling to stay alive
on meagre welfare cheques when a panel of experts commissioned by the
government recommended they receive an extra $400 per month.

Hillson said the money is needed for nutrition-rich food, vitamin
supplements, bottled water and over-the-counter medicines.

"More than 500 times over, the government's very own appeal boards, their
own experts have said that these people need these things, they are crucial
and they are entitled to them," Hillson said.

He accused the government of stalling because it's hoping to save money
while people die.

The panel issued its recommendations 18 months ago and Hillson's group said
16 people have died since then.

Dosanjh said his officials are currently looking into the delay.