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Jundishapur Journal of Microbiology
Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences
e-ISSN 2008-4161
p-ISSN 2008-3645
Seroepidemiology of Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Illicit Substance Users in Ahvaz, Iran: 2005-2006
Authors
1Joundishapur Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz, IR Iran
2Infectious Disease Ward, Razi Hospital , Joundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran
3Health Ministry of Iran, IR Iran
*Corresponding Author: Seyed Mohammad Alavi, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz, IR Iran. Tel: +98-6113387724, Fax:+98- 9161184916, E-mail: Email: alavi.seyedmohammad@yahoo.com
Published online:Jul 31, 2012
Article type:Research Article
Received:Nov 10, 2011
Accepted:Jan 30, 2012
How to Cite:Alavi SM, Nadimi M, Shokri S, Zamani G. Seroepidemiology of Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Illicit Substance Users in Ahvaz, Iran: 2005-2006. Jundishapur J Microbiol. 2012;5(3):. doi: https://doi.org/10.5812/jjm.3446
Abstract
Background: A high seroprevalence rate of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has been reported among Iranian illicit substance users (ISUs).
Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of HIV and its risk factors in this population.
Patients and Methods: A total of 228 ISUs were included in this cross-sectional study, which was conducted in Ahvaz, southern Iran, from 2005 to 2006. The study population was randomly selected from available ISUs in prisons and addiction treatment centers. Subjects were tested for the presence of anti-HIV antibodies using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Drug use behaviors associated with HIV transmission (i.e., high-risk behaviors) and their current sexual risk behaviors were examined.
Results: Sixty two (27.2 %; 95 % CI: 22.5 % - 31.8 %) of the 228 men were HIV positive. The prevalence of HIV positivity in injecting, inhalant and oral users was 50.2 %, 10.4 %, and 7.6 %, respectively. HIV was positive in heroin, crack and opium users with a rate of 96.2 %, 83.3 %, and 1.4 %, respectively. Among the HIV infected cases, the vast majority had engaged in high-risk behaviors, including sharing needles (72 %), the majority of the injectors had also had unprotected sex with women (67.7 %), or with men (22.6 %).
Conclusions: Illicit substance usage is associated with an increased risk of exposure to HIV and this results in a high prevalence of HIV infection. Heroin injecting, sexually transmitted diseases (STD), having sex with multiple partners, unprotected sex, a long period in prison, early adulthood, and family contact with HIV infected cases, are considered to be the main risk factors for HIV infection.
Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education:
The results of this study are useful for health policy in HIV control.
Please cite this paper as:
Alavi SM, Nadimi M, Shokri S, Zamani G. Seroepidemiology of Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Illicit Substance Users in Ahvaz, Iran: 2005-2006. Jundishapur J Microbiol. 2012;5(3):474-8. DOI: 10.5812/jjm.3446
Copyright © 2012 Kowsar Corp. All rights reserved.
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Copyright
© 2012, Author(s). This open-access article is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which allows for unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided that the original work is properly cited.
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