Pitisuttithum, PunneeChoopanya, KachitBussaratid, ValaiVanichseni, Suphakvan Griensven, FritsPhonrat, BenjaluckMartin, MichaelVimutsunthorn, EiamSangkum, UdomsakKitayaporn, DwipTappero, Jordan WHeyward, WilliamFrancis, Donald2009-05-272009-05-272007-11-10Pitisuttithum P, Choopanya K, Bussaratid V, Vanichseni S, van Griensven F, Phonrat B, Martin M, Vimutsunthorn E, Sangkum U, Kitayaporn D, Tappero JW, Heyward W, Francis D. Social harms in injecting drug users participating in the first phase III HIV vaccine trial in Thailand. Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand. 2007 Nov; 90(11): 2442-8http://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/41218Chotmaihet Thangphaet.OBJECTIVE: To study related social harms due to identification with a group of participants in an HIV-1 vaccine trial who are potentially high risk for HIV/AIDS. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Two thousand five hundred forty six injecting drug users (IDU) were enrolled in a 36-month vaccine trial. Volunteers received education and risk reduction counseling at every six-month study visit. Social harms were not actively solicited, but volunteers were encouraged to report any during the process of counseling at every six-month visit. If a social harm was reported, a questionnaire was administered and the harm was tracked If necessary, clinic staff assisted in resolving the social harm. RESULTS: Thirty-nine social harms were reported by 37 participants; 33 (84.6%) were disturbances in personal relationships, three (7.7%) in employment, one (2.6%) was medically related, one (2.6%) was related to admission in the military and one (2.6%) was related with misbelieve about the vaccine. The most common reason for disturbances in personal relationships was suspicion of HIV infection (n=20). The impact of these harms on quality of life was characterized as minimal by 31 (79.5%) participants, as moderate by seven (17.9%), and as major by one (2.6%). All social harms were documented to be resolved by the end of the study. CONCLUSION: A few participants reported study-related social harms during the course of the trial. Most harm had minimal impact and all could be resolved by the end of the present study.engAIDS VaccinesAdultFemaleHIV Infections --etiologyHumansInjections, Intravenous --adverse effectsMaleMiddle AgedPrejudicePsychological TestsPsychometricsQuality of LifeQuestionnairesRisk FactorsRisk Reduction BehaviorRisk-TakingSocial AdjustmentSocial IsolationSocial PerceptionStreet Drugs --adverse effectsSubstance-Related Disorders --psychologyThailandClinical Trial