Seroprevalence of HBV, HCV and HIV infection among intravenous drug users in Shahr-e-Kord, Islamic Republic of Iran.

Abstract

This study was conducted in 2004 to evaluate the prevalence of hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HBC) and human immunodeficiency (HIV) virus infection in 133 injecting drug users (IDUs) attending a voluntary rehabilitation centre in Shahr-e-Kord, and to identify risk factors for these infections in this group. Serum samples were screened for HBV, HCV and HIV infection. Only 1 participant (0.8%) was HIV positive, 15 (11.2%) were HCV positive and 8 (6.0%) were positive for HBV surface antigen. There was significant correlation between using shared syringes and infection with HIV, HCV and HBV.