Prevalence and risk factors of HIV, hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections in drug addicts among Gorgan prisoners

The objective of the present study is to determine the prevalence of HIV, HBV and HCV in the addict prisoners in Gorgan city. In this cross-sectional study conducted between 2002-2003, a randomized sampling was done on 121 drug addict prisoners. A blood sample was taken from each case and serologic tests for HBV, HCV and HIV were done, then complementary tests for HIV (ELISA and Western-blot) were done. Physical examinations and face-to-face interviews were done. Chi-square and Exact-Fisher test were used for data analysis and relationships between factors. The prevalence of HIV, HCV and HBV were 5.8, 23.1 and 4.1%, respectively. Injection was the most common route of drug use. Marital status was significantly related to HIV and HCV infection. Tatooing and shared syringe use were significantly related to all these infections. Because of the high prevalence of HIV, HCV and HBV in the studied cases and tending to the high risk behaviors among the prisoners, it seems that more educational and preventive programs are needed to control the spread of these infections in the population