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Factors Correlated With Hepatitis C and B Virus Infections Among Injecting Drug Users in Tehran, IR Iran

BACKGROUND: In Iran, the number of injecting drug users (IDUs) has increased in recent years. The rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections among IDUs are reportedly high. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess factors correlated with HCV and HBV infections...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Amin-Esmaeili, Masoumeh, Rahimi-Movaghar, Afarin, Razaghi, Emran M., Baghestani, Ahmad Reza, Jafari, Siavash
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Kowsar 2012
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3298872/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22451840
http://dx.doi.org/10.5812/kowsar.1735143X.806
Descripción
Sumario:BACKGROUND: In Iran, the number of injecting drug users (IDUs) has increased in recent years. The rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections among IDUs are reportedly high. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess factors correlated with HCV and HBV infections among IDUs in Tehran. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study included 899 IDUs recruited from the community, drug treatment centers, and drop-in-centers. The study involved interviews conducted using an adapted version of the WHO Drug Injection Study Phase II (Version 2b) questionnaire and blood testing for the HCV antibody, hepatitis B surface antigen, and hepatitis B core antibody. A logistic regression model was used to identify independent factors correlated with HCV and HBV infections. RESULTS: HCV infection was found to be primarily associated with female gender [odds ratio (OR) 5.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.0-10.0)], unmarried status (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.9-4.4), drug use for more than 10 years (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.8-3.9), drug injection frequency of more than once per day (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.6-4.2), history of imprisonment (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.6-4.0)], and a history of shared injection needles in prison (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.5-3.6). HBV infection was mainly correlated with a history of imprisonment (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.4-2.7) and drug use for more than 10 years (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.9). CONCLUSIONS: Because a considerable number of IDUs in Iran are receiving reduction services, tailoring services for prevention of hepatitis infection are necessary.