Rapidly responding to injecting drug use and HIV in Brazil: a field-report from São Vicente, São Paulo State.

As part of Phase II of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Injecting Drug Use Multi-City Study, Rapid Assessment and Response (RAR) methodology was used in São Vicente City (São Paulo State, Brazil) to analyse the situation regarding injecting drug use and HIV infection. Over a period of 8 weeks, analysis of existing information, focus groups (four) and depth interviews (45) were conducted, with qualitative data analysis taking a further 12 weeks. This work was undertaken by a team of six researchers (working mostly part-time on the project), and the research process was overseen by an Advisory Community Group.