Author/Authors :
Noroozi Alireza نويسنده , Mehrabi Yadollah نويسنده , Noroozi Mehdi نويسنده Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Khademi Nahid نويسنده Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kurdistan , Hamzeh Behrooz نويسنده Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Iran. , Nasirian Maryam نويسنده Regional Knowledge Hub for HIV/AIDS Surveillance, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran , Hajebi Ahmad نويسنده Tehran Institute of Psychiatry-Faculty of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Etemad Koorosh نويسنده Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, ShahidBeheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Higgs Peter نويسنده School of Psychology and Public Health,Department of Public Health,La Trobe University,Melbourne,Australia , Shakiba Ebrahim نويسنده Department of Biochemistry, Medical School, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran. , Sharhani Asaad نويسنده Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health,
Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran,
Iran
Abstract :
Background Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is increasingly
recognized as a major global health problem. Objectives The aim of this
study was to measure the prevalence of HCV infection and determine the
risk factors associated with HCV among male people who inject drugs
(PWID) in Kermanshah, Iran. Methods In this cross sectional study, the
samples were recruited from 2 drop-in centers and related community
outreach sites, using snowball sampling. The questionnaire consisted of
3 sections, including demographics, drug use patterns, and risky
behaviors. HCV infection was tested in venous blood samples, collected
from the participants, using the ABON rapid test kit. Logistic
regression analysis was used to determine the association between HCV
status and the associated factors, reported as odds ratio (OR) and 95%
confidence interval (CI). Results The mean age of the participants was
36.7 ± 8.5 years (range, 18 - 65 years). Over half of the participants
(54.8%) tested positive for HCV antibodies; in other words, they had
been exposed to the virus. Adjusted OR for people reporting shared
equipments within the past month was 3.36 times higher than the OR of
people who reported no shared equipments (P = 0.000). The adjusted OR of
positive HCV among those who injected twice or more per day was 4.33 (P
= 0.000), compared to those who injected only once a day (or less). With
over half the participants having evidence of HCV exposure, there is a
need to increase the coverage of harm-reduction programs, especially
sterile injection equipment programs. Moreover, increasing access to
harm-reduction programs and HCV treatment can ultimately reduce the
opportunities for HCV transmission.
