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

authors:

avatar Masoumeh Amin-Esmaeili 1 , avatar Masoumeh Amin-Esmaeili 1 , avatar Afarin Rahimi-Movaghar 1 , * , avatar Afarin Rahimi-Movaghar 2 , * , avatar Emran M. Razaghi 1 , avatar Emran M. Razaghi 2 , avatar Ahmad Reza Baghestani 1 , avatar Ahmad Reza Baghestani 3 , avatar Siavash Jafari 3 , avatar Siavash Jafari 4

Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran
Psychiatry Department, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran
Islamic Azad University, South Tehran Branch, Tehran, IR Iran
Faculty of Medicine, School of Population and Public Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Corresponding Authors:

how to cite: Amin-Esmaeili M, Amin-Esmaeili M, Rahimi-Movaghar A, Rahimi-Movaghar A, Razaghi E, et al. Factors Correlated With Hepatitis C and B Virus Infections Among Injecting Drug Users in Tehran, IR Iran. Hepat Mon. 2012;12(1): 23-31. https://doi.org/10.5812/kowsar.1735143X.806.

Abstract

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.

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