PREVALENCE OF COMMON BLOOD-BORNE INFECTIONS AMONG IMPRISONED INJECTION DRUG USERS IN MASHHAD, NORTH-EAST OF IRAN

Background – Injection drug use plays an important role in the transmission of bloodborne viral infections among injection drug users (IDUs). The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of the main four blood-borne infections in incarcerated IDUs in the Central Prison of Mashhad, the northeastern metropolis of Iran, and comparing it with the same rates in the society. It was also aimed of this study was to obtain some important demographic and risk behavior data of incarcerated IDUs. Methods – The study population comprised a convenience sample of 101 incarcerated IDUs in Mashhad. A blood sample was taken from each subject in August 2001 and tested to detect hepatitis C, hepatitis B (HBsAg), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV-1) infection markers by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the laboratory of the Blood Transfusion Organization. A confirmative western blot test was performed for the HIV-positive ones. The data regarding their demographic characteristics and injection-related and sexual risky behaviors were obtained through an interviewer-assisted questionnaire. The Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS) Thesis Committee reviewed all aspects of the research and approved the protocol. Results – The seroprevalence of HCV, HBV (HBsAg), HIV, and HTLV-1 was 60%, 3%, 7%, and 52%, respectively. Forty-nine percent of the subjects shared their syringes or needles and 20% practiced frontloading. HCV and HTLV-1 infections were associated with injection-related risky behaviors, while no association was found between these infections and the variables pointing to sexual risky behaviors. Conclusion – Given the high rates of the above-mentioned infections among IDUs found in this study and considering the concerning trend of drug addiction problem in Iran, there is an urgent need for effective harm reduction programs in Iran particularly among incarcerated IDUs.