The Frequency of HBV and HIV among injection Drug Users in Shahre-Kord, Iran

Background: Drug injection is one of the most significant risk factors for viral hepatitis and human immu-nodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The present study was performed to evaluate the frequency of hepatitis B (HBV) and HIV infection in IDUs and to identify the risk factors of these infections in this group in a central city of Iran, Shahre-Kord. Methods: This study was conducted in 2004 with a study population of 133 Intravenous drug users (IDUs) in a voluntary drug treatment center. Information on demographics, HBV, and HIV-related risk behaviors were obtained through an interviewer-assisted questionnaire. IDUs serum samples were screened for HBV and HIV infection using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All HIV positive samples were con-firmed by Western blotting. Results: Of the 133 IDUs, 1 (0.75%) was HIV+ and 8 (6.2%) were Hepatitis B surface antigen positive (HbsAg+). The mean age of HBV infected IDUs was 31.13 years. The prevalence of HBV infection was more than that of the HIV infection. Using Chi-square test it was found that there was significant correlation between using shared syringe and infection with both HIV and HBV (P < 0.05). Conclusion: This is the first prevalence study of HBV and HIV infection among IDUs in Shahre-Kord. We concluded that drug users had an elevated prevalence of HBV and HIV infection. Drug injection is the most important risk factor associated with blood-borne viral and particularly HIV and HBV infections.