Skip to main content
Hepatitis Monthly logoLink to Hepatitis Monthly
. 2012 Jan 20;12(1):23–31. doi: 10.5812/kowsar.1735143X.806

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

Masoumeh Amin-Esmaeili 1, Afarin Rahimi-Movaghar 1,*, Emran M Razaghi 2, Ahmad Reza Baghestani 3, Siavash Jafari 4
PMCID: PMC3298872  PMID: 22451840

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.

Keywords: Hepatitis Viruses, Prevalence, Risk Factors, Risk Behavior, Iran

1. Background

For decades, Iran was facing a high rate of opium use, as a producer country. Thirty years after total eradication of opium poppy cultivation, Iran is experiencing a rapid shift towards more severe patterns of drug use. In 1999, it was estimated that 166,000 injecting drug users (IDUs) live in Iran [1]. Currently, it is estimated that there are more than 260,000 IDUs in the country [2]. To address this sharp increase in injection drug use and its health-related consequences, harm-reduction initiatives were started in 2002 and have expanded since 2005. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide and a potential contributor to morbidity and mortality [3]. In Iran, the prevalence of HCV infection in the general population has been estimated to be less than 1% [4]; this is significantly less than the estimated prevalence in the world population (3%) [5]. Since initiation of routine screening for HCV in donated blood, transfusions have virtually been eliminated as a source of HCV transmission. Therefore, most newly acquired cases of hepatitis C are related to injecting drug use, mainly due to unsafe injection practices [6][7][8]. The prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the general population of Iran ranges from 1.7% to 5% [9], which is in an intermediate range of endemicity [10]. In a review, Custer et al. found that the prevalence of chronic HBV infection in the general population was highly variable, ranging from greater than 10% in some Asian and Western Pacific countries to less than 0.5% in the United States and northern European countries [11]. Additionally, injecting drug use was identified as a risk factor for hepatitis B in many countries [11].

2. Objectives

High rates of HCV and HBV infections among IDUs have been reported in Iran [12][13][14]. Few studies have evaluated the risk factors related to these rates. This study is a part of a larger study examining the characteristics, risk behaviors, and risk factors of hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections among IDUs in Tehran, the capital city of Iran. This paper presents the results related to the prevalence of HCV and HBV infections and the correlating factors in this population.

3. Patients and Methods

3.1. Population and Field Work

This cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2006 and March 2007 and involved 904 current IDUs selected from drug treatment centers and the community. Drug users were included in the study if they had a history of injecting drug use over the 2-month period prior to the study and consented to participate in the interviews. Using purposive sampling with ethnographic observations in public places, peer referrals, and assessments of snowballing effects, a community sample population was selected from five areas of Tehran with high rates of drug use. Another sample population was selected from three drug-treatment centers and two drop-in-centers (DICs) located in different, well-known areas of Tehran with high rates of drug use. Treatment centers provide methadone maintenance treatment (MMT), and DICs mainly provide other types of harm-reduction interventions, including needle and syringe programs (NSP) and harm-reduction education. Cases were selected based on consecutive admissions to the centers during the study time period. We used the questionnaire of the "WHO Drug Injection Study Phase II (Version 2b)" for data collection. Three psychiatrists adapted the questionnaire according to the situation in Iran, which was followed by a pretest assessment on a sample of IDUs. The questionnaire included assessments of socio-demographic characteristics, drug use and injecting drug use practices, sexual risk behaviors, knowledge regarding hepatitis infection, and service use.

Fieldwork, including interviews and blood sampling, was carried out by experienced drug therapists and outreach workers after a short training course that included questionnaire training and instructions on transferring blood samples to the laboratory. There was no monetary incentive for participation in this study. However, the use of free-of-charge health services, including drug treatment, was offered as an incentive.

3.2. Blood Sample

Blood samples were tested for the HCV antibody (anti-HCV ELISA, DRG Co., Germany), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg IEMA WELL, Radim, Italy), and hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc EIA WELL, Radim, Italy). A positive result either for HBsAg or anti-HBc was considered to indicate "past or current HBV infection." All positive and borderline-positive samples for HBsAg, anti-HBc, and anti-HCV were retested using the same method. We excluded samples that repeatedly showed borderline-positive results. All tests were conducted at the Keyvan Laboratory.

3.3. Statistical Analysis

Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS for Windows (version 16.0, 2007; SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Univariate analysis was conducted using chi-square test for binomial variables. All variables were included in the multivariable analysis. A multivariate logistic regression model using a forward conditional method was used to identify independent correlates of HCV and HBV infections. Associations were assessed using the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals, and adjusted odds ratios were determined through multivariate analysis.

3.4. Ethical Considerations

The research protocol was approved by the ethics committee of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Iran. Participation in the study was on a voluntary basis, and informed consent was obtained for the interview as well as for collecting blood samples. All efforts were made to guarantee privacy and confidentiality during the interviews. A de-linked method for testing was carried out to ensure confidentiality of the results. An identification code, which was used for laboratory results as well, was included on each questionnaire. Participants were ensured that non-participation in the study would not affect their treatment or harm-reduction service utilization.

4. Results

A total of 904 IDUs were enrolled in the study. Most of the participants (95.8%) were male. Participant ages ranged from 16 to 65 years, with a mean age [standard deviation (SD)] of 33.9 (9.4) years. The mean (SD) years of education was 7.7 (3.5) years. Most subjects were unmarried (70.8%) and unemployed (64.1%). Socio-demographic profiles of participants recruited from drug treatment centers, DICs, and the community are presented in Table 1. The mean (SD) age at first drug use was 19.7 (4.0) years. The main injected drug used within the last 6 months was heroin (81.3%), and the mean (SD) duration of drug injection was 8.4 (7.6) years. Most participants (76.6%) reported injecting with used injection equipment, including needles and syringes, or sharing other injection paraphernalia within the last six months. Among the participants, 70.9% had a history of imprisonment, and 21.5% of these had a history of sharing injection equipment in prison.

Table 1. Socio-Demographic Profile of the Study Sample in Three Different Settings.

Drug Treatment Center (n = 158) DICs a (n = 290) Community (n = 446)
Gender
Female 1 1 1
Male 20 20 25
Age, y, mean ± SD 34.2 ± 9.4 34.2 ± 9.8 33.5 ± 9.2
Full-time education, y, mean ± SD 8.0 ± 3.7 8.2 ± 3.3 7.3 ± 3.5
Single; widowed; or separated, % 47.8 71.2 78.7
Homeless, % 5.8 30.1 56.4
Living alone, % 14.5 34.7 56.2
Unemployed, % 26.9 67.2 75.6
History of imprisonment, % 38.6 75.9 78.8

a Abbreviation: DICs, drop-in centers

With regard to sexual behavior, 36.4% of the participants reported an extramarital relationship (either heterosexual or homosexual) within the last 6 months, and of these, 80% had a history of intercourse without protection during the same period. An extramarital relationship without protection was defined as "high-risk sexual behavior." Five of the interviewees refused to participate in blood testing. In the HCV antibody testing, four samples showed repeated borderline results. Of the remaining 895 participants, 34.5% (CI 31.4-37.7%) tested positive for HCV. In univariate analysis, several variables were identified as factors correlated with transmission of hepatitis C among the participants. Recruitment from DICs and the community, older age, unmarried status, homelessness and living alone, history of imprisonment and unsafe sharing practices in prison, initiation of drug use at a young age, longer duration of drug use and duration of injecting drug use, more frequent injecting drug use, history of overdose, and recent use of harm-reduction services were associated with a higher prevalence of HCV infection (Table 2).

Table 2. Univariate and Multivariate Analysis of Risk Factors for HCV and HBV Infection.

HCV Infection HBV Infection
Patients, No. HCV (+), No. (%) OR a (95% CI) AOR a (95% CI) Patients, No. HBV (+), No. (%) OR (95% CI) a AOR (95% CI)
Recruitment setting
Drug treatment center 158 17 (10.8) 1 1 152 74 (48.7) 1 -
Drop-in centers 290 132 (45.5) 7.0 (4.0–12.1) 5.7 (2.8–11.2) 282 125 (44.3) 0.8 (0.6–1.2) -
Community 446 160 (35.9) 4.6 (2.7–8.0) 3.3 (1.7–6.4) 429 218 (46.2) 0.9 (0.6–1.3) -
Gender
Female 36 16 (44.4) 1 1 37 13 (35.1) 1 -
Male 859 293 (34.1) 0.6 (0.3–1.3) 0.2 (0.1–0.5) 827 385 (46.6) 1.6 (0.8–3.2) -
Age, y
≤ 35 561 161 (28.7) 1 - 545 234 (42.9) 1 -
> 35 332 146 (44) 2.0 (1.5–2.6) - 317 163 (51.4) 1.4 (1.1–2.0) -
Education
≤ Grade 8 475 168 (35.4) 1 - 456 224 (49.1) 1 -
> Grade 8 414 138 (33.3) 0.9 (0.7–1.2) - 402 173 (43.0) 0.8 (0.6–1.03) -
Marital status
Married and living with a partner 264 62 (23.5) 1 1 252 111 (44.0) 1 -
Single, widowed, or separated 631 247 (39.1) 2.1 (1.5–2.9) 2.9 (1.9–4.4) 612 287 (46.9) 1.1 (0.8–1.5) -
Main place of residence during last 6 months
Have a place to live 541 174 (32.2) 1 - 521 247 (47.4) 1 -
Homeless 343 133 (38.8) 1.3 (1.01–1.8) - 334 149 (44.6) 0.9 (0.7–1.2) -
Living alone
No 520 166 (31.9) 1 1 501 244 (48.7) 1 -
Yes 368 141 (38.3) 1.3 (1.0–1.8) 0.7 (0.4–1.0) 356 152 (42.7) 0.8 (0.6–1.03) -
Current employment status
Employed 317 97 (30.6) 1 - 305 1 1
Unemployed 566 207 (36.6) 1.31 (0.98–1.8) - 547 241 (44.1) 0.8 (0.6–1.04) 0.7 (0.5–0.9)
History of imprisonment
No 259 38 (14.7) 1 1 252 94 (37.3) 1 1
Yes 631 268 (42.5) 4.3 (2.9–6.3) 2.5 (1.6–4.0) 607 302 (49.8) 1.7 (1.2–2.2) 1.9 (1.4–2.7)
Age of first drug use, y
≤ 20 583 217 (37.2) 1 - 560 269 (48.0) 1 -
> 20 311 92 (29.6) 0.7 (0.5–0.95) - 303 128 (42.2) 0.8 (0.6–1.05) -
Duration of drug use, y
≤ 10 344 75 (21.8) 1 1 331 128 (38.7) 1 1
> 10 542 231 (42.6) 2.7 (1.96–3.6) 2.7 (1.8–3.9) 525 265 (50.5) 1.6 (1.2–2.1) 1.4 (1.1–1.9)
Duration of injecting drug use, y
≤ 2 223 41 (18.4) 1 - 218 88 (40.4) 1 -
> 2 660 264 (40) 2.96 (2.04–4.3) - 635 304 (47.9) 1.4 (0.99–1.9) -
Frequency of injection during last 6 mounths
≤ once daily 210 42 (20) 1 1 209 80 (45.5) 1 -
> once daily 684 266 (38.9) 2.6 (1.8–3.96) 2.6 (1.6–4.2) 654 317 (48.5) 1.5 (1.1–2.1) -
Sharing needle/syringes during last 6 mounths
No 325 104 (32) 1 - 315 137 (43.5) 1 -
Yes 566 204 (36) 1.2 (0.9–1.6) - 545 261 (47.9) 1.2 (0.9–1.6) -
Any sharing behavior during last 6 mounths
No 212 64 (30.2) 1 1 208 87 (41.8) 1 -
Yes 683 245 (35.9) 1.3 (0.9–1.8) 0.5 (0.3–0.8) 656 311 (47.4) 1.3 (0.9–1.7) -
History of sharing injection in the prison
No 759 236 (31.1) 1 1 735 330 (44.9) 1 -
Yes 136 73 (53.7) 2.57 (1.8–3.7) 2.3 (1.5–3.6) 129 68 (52.7) 1.4 (0.9–2.0) -
Injection with pre-filled syringe during last 6 mounths
No 693 241 (34.8) 1 - 665 300 (45.1) 1 -
Yes 200 68 (34) 0.97 (0.7–1.4) - 197 98 (49.7) 1.2 (0.9–1.7) -
High risk sexual behavior during last 6 mounths
No 634 217 (34.2) 1 - 609 285 (46.8) 1 -
Yes 261 92 (35.2) 1.1 (0.8–1.4) - 255 113 (44.3) 0.9 (0.7–1.2) -
History of drug overdose
Yes 394 163 (41.4) 1 - 480 199 (41.5) 1 -
No 493 141 (28.6) 1.8 (1.3–2.3) - 376 195 (51.9) 1.5 (1.2–2.0) -
Naming hepatitis C
No 413 134 (32.4) 1 - 318 149 (46.9) 1 -
Yes 475 174 (36.6) 1.2 (0.9–1.6) - 540 247 (45.7) 0.9 (0.7–1.3) -
Used any harm reduction service during last 6 mounths
No 432 129 (29.9) 1 1 414 195 (47.1) 1 -
Yes 463 180 (38.9) 1.5 (1.1–2.0) 1.5 (1.02–2.1) 449 203 (45.2) 0.9 (0.7–1.2) -
Used any drug treatment service during last 6 mounths
No 204 60 (29.4) 1 - 200 73 (36.5) 1 -
Yes 691 249 (36) 1.4 (0.96–1.9) - 663 325 (48.9) 1.7 (1.2–2.3) -

a Abbreviations: AOR; adjusted odds ratio, CI; confidence interval, OR; odds ratio

Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the following independent factors were associated with HCV infection: recruitment from DICs and the community, female gender, unmarried status, longer duration of drug use, injection frequency of more than once per day, history of imprisonment and history of shared injection in prison, and use of a harm-reduction service during the past six months. The analysis also showed that sharing injection paraphernalia during the past six months was reversely associated with HCV infection (Table 2). Further analysis showed that among participants who had used harm-reduction services in the past six months, the rate of recent sharing behavior was less than those who had not used the services (73.2% vs. 79.9%, P < 0.02(. HBV testing showed borderline results or insufficient samples in 35 (3.5%) cases, which were excluded from the analysis. Of the 864 remaining subjects, 40 cases showing a weak positive result for HBsAg and negative results for anti-HBc were regarded as negative cases. HbsAg was detected in 24.7% and anti-HBc in 29.1% of the 864 cases. Overall, 46.1% of cases showed either past or current HBV infection. Univariate analysis revealed older age, history of imprisonment, longer duration and more frequent drug use, history of drug overdose, and recent drug-treatment service use as risk factors for HBV infection among IDUs. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that history of imprisonment and a longer duration of drug use were independently correlated with HBV infection (Table 2).

5. Discussion

In this study, we investigated the factors correlated with the transmission of HCV and HBV among IDUs in Tehran, the capital city of Iran. This is the largest study evaluating HCV and HBV infections and their correlated factors among IDUs in Iran. Only one study, which was conducted in 2004, has assessed the factors correlated with HCV infection among 202 non-incarcerated male IDUs in Tehran [13].

5.1. Prevalence of Hepatitis C in IDUs

We found that the prevalence of HCV was 34.5% in the sample IDU population. Among studies with a minimum sample size of 100, there have been three studies examining non-incarcerated IDUs in Iran; in these studies, the prevalence of HCV infections was 11.2% [12], 30.5% [14], and 52% [13]. Among incarcerated IDUs, reported HCV prevalence rates are higher, ranging from 31.5% to 81.8% [14][15][16][17][18]. HCV prevalence among non-incarcerated IDUs has also been reported in neighboring countries. In Afghanistan, the prevalence of HCV is reportedly 36.6% in the capital city of Kabul [19]; Pakistan reported higher rates, ranging from 88% to 94.3% [20][21][22]. In a recent report, the HCV prevalence among IDUs in South and Southeast Asia ranged from 10 to 100% [23]. Our study showed a medium HCV prevalence rate among non-incarcerated IDUs.

5.2. Variables Correlated With Hepatitis C

Our findings indicate that HCV infection is associated with female gender, a history of imprisonment and shared injection in prison, drug injection frequency of more than once per day, drug use for more than 10 years, and unmarried status. A key finding of this study is the association between gender and the risk of hepatitis C transmission. A similar finding has been reported in England, in which female gender was identified as a risk factor for HCV infection [24]. Other studies have not identified such a relationship [25][26]. Several social and demographic factors may predispose female drug users to acquiring blood-borne infections. A lack of gender-specific services in communities, stigma, financial dependence on a partner, and partner pressure [27][28] have been identified in other studies in Iran as limiting factors for female drug users' access to and utilization of treatment and prevention resources. Involvement in high-risk behaviors such as sex-for-money and sex-for-drugs have been reported as well. Similar to our study, other studies have reported imprisonment as a major risk factor for hepatitis C transmission in Iran and around the world. In Iran, the duration of incarceration (> 1 year) was previously identified as a risk factor [13]. These findings are consistent with studies conducted in Western countries that identified history of imprisonment, including duration and/or number of incarcerations, as factors associated with HCV seroconversion [29][30][31]. Our study indicated that approximately 70% of participants had a history of imprisonment, of which more than one-fifth shared needles while in prison. Since 2005, harm-reduction interventions inside Iranian prisons have been expanded; however, only one qualitative study has reported a significant decrease in injection drug use in one prison [32].

We found that drug injection frequency of more than once per day and drug use duration of more than 10 years were associated with high rates of HCV infection. Duration of injection drug use (> 10 years) has been reported as a risk factor in another study in Iran [13]. These findings are consistent with the results reported in other countries [22][25][29][33][34]. However, we found an HCV seroprevalence of 18.2% among IDUs who had been injecting drugs for less than two years. This finding indicates a more rapid rate of infection and suggests that infection occurs shortly after the initiation of injection practices. Other reports have also reported a rapid increase in HCV infection upon initiation of drug injection [35][36][37][38]. The high prevalence of hepatitis C infection among IDUs participating in high-risk behaviors such as needle sharing make unsafe injection the primary cause of hepatitis C transmission in developed countries [5][34]. Studies conducted in countries in this region, such as Pakistan [39] and Georgia [40], have reported unsafe injection to be the main cause of hepatitis C transmission among their populations. However, a meta-analysis of the factors correlated with HCV in China showed no significant difference between needle-sharing IDUs and non-needle-sharing IDUs [25]. In our study, sharing behavior during the last six months was reversely associated with HCV infection. This result, along with the finding of no relationship between HCV infection and knowledge of hepatitis C infection, suggests that the knowledge and behavior of IDUs with a long history of drug use and injecting drug use have improved. This also correlates with the finding that HCV infection is more prevalent among IDUs who used harm-reduction services during the last six months than among those who had not used the services.

In this study, no association was identified between recent high-risk sexual behavior and hepatitis C infection. Other studies also found HCV infection to be unrelated to sexual practices [26][33][35][40][41], confirming that hepatitis C among IDUs appears to be a consequence of repeated exposure to contaminated injection equipment.

5.3. Prevalence of Hepatitis B Among IDUs

The prevalence of past or current HBV infection was 46.1% in the study population. In another study examining incarcerated IDUs in Tehran, HBcAb was detected in 61.2% of the participants [42]. Among studies with a minimum sample size of 100, only one study examining non-incarcerated IDUs was conducted in Iran, which reported a positive HBsAg result in 6% of the cases [12]. The reported rates of IDUs in Kabul (6.5%) [19] and Karachi (7.5%) [20] are also relatively low. Injecting drug use is reportedly the primary risk behavior in new cases of hepatitis B in males in Egypt [43]. There are also reports of a greater than 50% rate of HBV infection among IDUs in other countries [40][44][45]. However, the high rate of HBV infection found in our study requires further investigation. Notably, in Iran, a national program for hepatitis B vaccination in newborns was begun in 1992; however, no specific vaccination plan for drug users has been established.

5.4. Variables Correlated With Hepatitis B

This is the second study that has explored factors correlated with HBV infection among IDUs in Iran. In our study, HBV infection was mainly correlated with a history of imprisonment and drug use for more than 10 years. These results are consistent with a report from Iran [46] and reports from other countries regarding risk factors of HBV infection in IDUs that have identified imprisonment [45][47] and the frequency [48] and duration of drug injection [45][49] as risk factors of HBV infection.

5.5. Limitations of the Study

Drug use is often a hidden behavior, and drug users are considered a hard-to-reach population. Therefore, selecting a representative sample of drug users in a geographical area is difficult. However, methods that are more representative are recommended, such as respondent-driven sampling or a hybrid sampling plan using several methods [50][51], as was used in our study. Additionally, sampling was conducted such that a higher number of IDUs in Tehran were involved in the study, and the results may not be generalized to the entire Iranian IDU population. Another limitation is that study participants were interviewed regarding their past circumstances and recall bias may be an issue. Additionally, respondents may have been under influence of drugs at the time of interview and may not have provided precise data. This study had a cross-sectional design, and the temporal relationship between correlated factors and HCV and HBV seropositivity cannot be proven.

Blood-borne infections pose a serious threat to the health of injecting drug users. Factors related to hepatitis B and C virus infections appear to be similar among IDUs. The findings explain the reasons behind the high rate of co-infections found in our study and explained elsewhere [52]. Since 2005, there have been continuous efforts to increase coverage of harm-reduction interventions in Iran. The intermediate prevalence of hepatitis C infection and the high rate of hepatitis B infection observed in our study highlight the importance of additional studies on the long-term effectiveness of harm-reduction interventions. Reports from other countries have also demonstrated that HIV preventive measures for IDUs are not always effective in controlling viral hepatitis [53]. Additionally, prison is a known predisposing environment for HIV transmission in Iran. Our study revealed the importance of prisons in acquiring HCV and HBV infection, as well. However, as a considerable number of IDUs in Iran are covered under harm-reduction programs, either in the community or in prison [54], these results present a good opportunity to tailor services for hepatitis patients to decrease exposure to contaminated blood as well as risk reduction in sexual behaviors. We also suggest primary prevention of initiating injection drug use in addition to a provision for hepatitis B vaccination and HCV and HBV infection testing for IDUs.

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the technical support of the WHO phase II Drug Injection Collaborative Study Group in the study design. Dr. Elaheh Sahimi-Izadian managed the field work. Tests were conducted at the Keyvan Laboratory, directed by Dr. Hossein Keyvani with the assistance of Ms. Maryam Labbaf. We also appreciate the cooperation of the directors and staff of the non-profit drug treatment and harm reduction centers, particularly Yaft Abad, Azadi, Bou-Ali, Behrouzan, and Rahajou,as well as all of the IDUs who participated in this study.

Footnotes

Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education: This article presents that IDUs are highly at risk of hepatitis B and C virus infections. This has an important implication for those who are involved in planning for providing harm reduction services, especially in prison settings.

Please cite this paper as: Amin-Esmaeili M, Rahimi-Movaghar A, Razaghi EM, Baghestani AR, Jafari S. Factors Correlated With Hepatitis C and B Virus Infections Among Injecting Drug Users in Tehran, IR Iran. Hepat Mon. 2012;12(1):23-31. DOI: 10.5812/kowsar.1735143X.806

Authors' Contribution: ARM and EMR designed the study and were responsible for the overall study management. ARB and MAE did the analysis. MAE, ARM and SJ prepared the manuscript. All authors contributed to the final version of the manuscript.

Financial Disclosure: The authors have no financial disclosures to report.

Funding/ Support: This research was supported by the Research Deputy of Tehran University of Medical Sciences and the World Health Organization (WHO), grant numbers 132/9064 and HQ/01/717711, respectively.

References

  • 1.Razzaghi EM, Rahimi- Movaghar A, Hosseini M, Madani S, Chatterjee A. Rapid Situation Assessment of Drug Abuse in Iran Tehran: Iranian Welfare Organization and UNDCP. 1999 Available from www.unodc.org/pdf/iran/publications/RSA2000SUMMARY. pdf.
  • 2.Rahimi-Movaghar A, Amin-Esmaeili M, Haghdoost AA, Sadeghirad B, Mohraz M. HIV prevalence amongst injecting drug users in Iran: A systematic review of studies conducted during the decade 1998-2007. Int J Drug Policy. 2011:[Epub ahead of print]. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2011.09.002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 3.Shepard CW, Finelli L, Alter MJ. Global epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection. Lancet Infect Dis. 2005;5(9):558–67. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(05)70216-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 4.Alavian SM, Adibi P, Zali MR. Hepatitis C virus in Iran: Epidemiology of an emerging infection. Arch Iranian Med. 2005;8(2):84–90. [Google Scholar]
  • 5.world health organization. Hepatitis C. 2002 Available From www.who.int/csr/disease/hepatitis/Hepc.pdf. [Google Scholar]
  • 6.Dore GJ, Law M, MacDonald M, Kaldor JM. Epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection in Australia. J Clin Virol. 2003;26(2):171–84. doi: 10.1016/s1386-6532(02)00116-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 7.Ontario: Public Health Agency of Canada. Epidemiology of Acute Hepatitis C Infection in Canada Results from the Enhanced Hepatitis Strain Surveillance System (EHSSS). Ottawa, Ontario: 2004 [updated 2010 April 29]. Available From: http://www.phac-aspc. gc.ca/sti-its-surv-epi/hcv-epi-eng.php.
  • 8.Alter MJ. Prevention of spread of hepatitis C. Hepatology. 2002;36(5 Suppl 1):S93–8. doi: 10.1053/jhep.2002.36389. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 9.Forouzanfar MH, Mohammad K, Majdzadeh R, Malekzadeh R, Abolhasani F, Mohammadnejad M. [Effectiveness of adolescents' immunization against hepatitis B on burden of the disease in Iran]. Hakim Research J. 2009;9(2):1–11. [Google Scholar]
  • 10.World Health Organization. Hepatitis B. WHO. 2002 [updated February 2002] Available From www.who.int/csr/disease/hepatitis/ whocdscsrlyo20022/en.
  • 11.Custer B, Sullivan SD, Hazlet TK, Iloeje U, Veenstra DL, Kowdley KV. Global epidemiology of hepatitis B virus. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2004;38(10 Suppl 3):S158–68. doi: 10.1097/00004836-200411003-00008. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 12.Karimi A. Seroprevalence of HBV, HCV and HIV among intravenous drug users in Iran. J Clin Virol. 2006;36(Supplement 2):S210–S1. [Google Scholar]
  • 13.Zamani S, Ichikawa S, Nassirimanesh B, Vazirian M, Ichikawa K, Gouya MM. Prevalence and correlates of hepatitis C virus infection among injecting drug users in Tehran. Int J Drug Policy. 2007;18(5):359–63. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2007.02.007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 14.Mir-Nasseri MM, Poustchi H, Nasseri-Moghadam S, Nouraie SM, Tahaghoghi S, Afshar P, Liaw YF, Leung N, Kao JH, Piratvisuth T, Gane E, Han KH, Guan R, Lau GK, Locarnini S. [HCV in intravenous drug users]. Govaresh. 2005;2(51):80–6. [Google Scholar]
  • 15.Kheirandish P, SeyedAlinaghi S, Jahani M, Shirzad H, Seyed Ahmadian M, Majidi A, Sharifi A, Hosseini M, Mohraz M, McFarland W. Prevalence and correlates of hepatitis C infection among male injection drug users in detention, Tehran, Iran. J Urban Health. 2009;86(6):902–8. doi: 10.1007/s11524-009-9393-0. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 16.Mohammad Alizadeh AH, Alavian SM, Jafari K, Yazdi N. Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection and its related risk factors in drug abuser prisoners in Hamedan--Iran. World J Gastroenterol. 2005;11(26):4085–9. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i26.4085. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 17.Rahbar AR, Rooholamini S, Khoshnood K. Prevalence of HIV infection and other blood-borne infections in incarcerated and non-incarcerated injection drug users (IDUs) in Mashhad, Iran. Int J Drug Policy. 2004;15(2):151–5. [Google Scholar]
  • 18.Zali MR, Aghazadeh R, Nowroozi A, Amir-Rasouly H. Anti-HCV antibody among Iranian IV drug users: is it a serious problem. Arch Iran Med. 2001;4(3):115–9. [Google Scholar]
  • 19.Todd CS, Abed AM, Strathdee SA, Scott PT, Botros BA, Safi N, Earhart KC. HIV, hepatitis C, and hepatitis B infections and associated risk behavior in injection drug users, Kabul, Afghanistan. Emerg Infect Dis. 2007;13(9):1327–31. doi: 10.3201/eid1309.070036. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 20.Altaf A, Shah SA, Zaidi NA, Memon A, Nadeem ur R, Wray N. High risk behaviors of injection drug users registered with harm reduction programme in Karachi, Pakistan. Harm Reduct J. 2007;4:7. doi: 10.1186/1477-7517-4-7. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 21.United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Baseline study of the relationship between IDU, HIV and Hepatitis C among male IDUs in Lahore. 1999 [updated 1999 December] Available From http://aidsdatahub.org/en/reference-librarycols2/item/19437.
  • 22.Kuo I, ul-Hasan S, Galai N, Thomas DL, Zafar T, Ahmed MA, Strathdee SA. High HCV seroprevalence and HIV drug use risk behaviors among injection drug users in Pakistan. Harm Reduct J. 2006;3:26. doi: 10.1186/1477-7517-3-26. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 23.Aceijas C, Rhodes T. Global estimates of prevalence of HCV infection among injecting drug users. Int J Drug Policy. 2007;18(5):352–8. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2007.04.004. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 24.Sweeting MJ, Hope VD, Hickman M, Parry JV, Ncube F, Ramsay ME, De Angelis D. Hepatitis C infection among injecting drug users in England and Wales (1992-2006): there and back again? Am J Epidemiol. 2009;170(3):352–60. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwp141. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 25.Xia X, Luo J, Bai J, Yu R. Epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection among injection drug users in China: systematic review and meta-analysis. Public Health. 2008;122(10):990–1003. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2008.01.014. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 26.Wylie JL, Shah L, Jolly AM. Demographic, risk behaviour and personal network variables associated with prevalent hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and HIV infection in injection drug users in Winnipeg, Canada. BMC Public Health. 2006;6:229. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-6-229. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 27.Razzaghi EM, Movaghar AR, Green TC, Khoshnood K. Profiles of risk: a qualitative study of injecting drug users in Tehran, Iran. Harm Reduct J. 2006;3:12. doi: 10.1186/1477-7517-3-12. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 28.Jafari S, Movaghar A, Craib K, Baharlou S, Mathias R. Socio-cultural Factors Associated with the Initiation of Opium Use in Darab, Iran. Int J Ment Health Addict. 2009;7(2):376–88. [Google Scholar]
  • 29.Long J, Allwright S, Barry J, Reynolds SR, Thornton L, Bradley F, Parry JV. Prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV and risk factors in entrants to Irish prisons: a national cross sectional survey. BMJ. 2001;323(7323):1209–13. doi: 10.1136/bmj.323.7323.1209. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 30.Añón C, del Olmo JA, Llovet F, Serra MA, Gilabert S, Rodríguez F, Rodrigo JM. [The hepatitis C virus among the prison population of Valencia] Rev Esp Enferm Dig. 1995;87(7):505–8. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 31.Butler TG, Dolan KA, Ferson MJ, McGuinness LM, Brown PR, Robertson PW. Hepatitis B and C in New South Wales prisons: prevalence and risk factors. Med J Aust. 1997;166(3):127–30. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1997.tb140041.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 32.Zamani S, Farnia M, Tavakoli S, Gholizadeh M, Nazari M, Seddighi AA, Setayesh H, Afshar P, Kihara M. A qualitative inquiry into methadone maintenance treatment for opioid-dependent prisoners in Tehran, Iran. Int J Drug Policy. 2010;21(3):167–72. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2009.03.001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 33.Oliveira ML, Bastos FI, Telles PR, Yoshida CF, Schatzmayr HG, Paetzold U, Pauli G, Schreier E. Prevalence and risk factors for HBV, HCV and HDV infections among injecting drug users from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Braz J Med Biol Res. 1999;32(9):1107–14. doi: 10.1590/S0100-879X1999000900009. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 34.Villano SA, Vlahov D, Nelson KE, Lyles CM, Cohn S, Thomas DL. Incidence and risk factors for hepatitis C among injection drug users in Baltimore, Maryland. J Clin Microbiol. 1997;35(12):3274–7. doi: 10.1128/jcm.35.12.3274-3277.1997. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 35.Reyes JC, Colón HM, Robles RR, Rios E, Matos TD, Negrón J, Marrero CA, Calderón JM, Shepard E. Prevalence and correlates of hepatitis C virus infection among street-recruited injection drug users in San Juan, Puerto Rico. J Urban Health. 2006;83(6):1105–13. doi: 10.1007/s11524-006-9109-7. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 36.Garten RJ, Lai S, Zhang J, Liu W, Chen J, Vlahov D, Yu XF. Rapid transmission of hepatitis C virus among young injecting heroin users in Southern China. Int J Epidemiol. 2004;33(1):182–8. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyh019. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 37.Thorpe LE, Ouellet LJ, Hershow R, Bailey SL, Williams IT, Williamson J, Monterroso ER, Garfein RS. Risk of hepatitis C virus infection among young adult injection drug users who share injection equipment. Am J Epidemiol. 2002;155(7):645–53. doi: 10.1093/aje/155.7.645. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 38.Hahn JA, Page-Shafer K, Lum PJ, Bourgois P, Stein E, Evans JL, Busch MP, Tobler LH, Phelps B, Moss AR. Hepatitis C virus seroconversion among young injection drug users: relationships and risks. J Infect Dis. 2002;186(11):1558–64. doi: 10.1086/345554. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 39.Raja NS, Janjua KA. Epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection in Pakistan. J Microbiol Immunol Infect. 2008;41(1):4–8. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 40.Shapatava E, Nelson KE, Tsertsvadze T, del Rio C. Risk behaviors and HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C seroprevalence among injection drug users in Georgia. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2006;82(Suppl 1):S35–8. doi: 10.1016/s0376-8716(06)80006-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 41.Segurado AC, Braga P, Etzel A, Cardoso MR. Hepatitis C virus coinfection in a cohort of HIV-infected individuals from Santos, Brazil: seroprevalence and associated factors. AIDS Patient Care STDS. 2004;18(3):135–43. doi: 10.1089/108729104322994829. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 42.Tavakkoli H, Mir-Nasseri MM, Poustchi H, Afshar P, Motalebi MN, Mohammadkhani A, Malekzadeh R. Prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B infection in injection drug users, Tehran (2001-2002). Hepat Mon. 2008;8(1):29–33. [Google Scholar]
  • 43.Paez Jimenez A, El-Din NS, El-Hoseiny M, El-Daly M, Abdel-Hamid M, El Aidi S, Sultan Y, El-Sayed N, Mohamed MK, Fontanet A. Community transmission of hepatitis B virus in Egypt: results from a case-control study in Greater Cairo. Int J Epidemiol. 2009;38(3):757–65. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyp194. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 44.Vassilev ZP, Hagan H, Lyubenova A, Tomov N, Vasilev G, Krasteva D, Des Jarlais DC. Needle exchange use, sexual risk behaviour, and the prevalence of HIV, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus infections among Bulgarian injection drug users. Int J STD AIDS. 2006;17(9):621–6. doi: 10.1258/095646206778113041. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 45.Backmund M, Meyer K, Schuetz C, Reimer J. Factors associated with exposure to hepatitis B virus in injection drug users. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2006;84 (2):154–9. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2006.01.009. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 46.Mir-Nasseri MM, Mohammadkhani A, Tavakkoli H, Ansari E, Poustchi H. Incarceration is a major risk factor for blood-borne infection among intravenous drug users: Incarceration and blood borne infection among intravenous drug users. Hepat Mon. 2011;11(1):19–22. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 47.Mansson AS, Moestrup T, Nordenfelt E, Widell A. Continued transmission of hepatitis B and C viruses, but no transmission of human immunodeficiency virus among intravenous drug users participating in a syringe/needle exchange program. Scand J Infect Dis. 2000;32(3):253–8. doi: 10.1080/00365540050165875. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 48.Ruan Y, Qin G, Yin L, Chen K, Qian HZ, Hao C, Liang S, Zhu J, Xing H, Hong K, Shao Y. Incidence of HIV, hepatitis C and hepatitis B viruses among injection drug users in southwestern China: a 3-year follow-up study. AIDS. 2007;21(Suppl 8):S39–46. doi: 10.1097/01.aids.0000304695.54884.4f. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 49.Miller ER, Hellard ME, Bowden S, Bharadwaj M, Aitken CK. Markers and risk factors for HCV, HBV and HIV in a network of injecting drug users in Melbourne, Australia. J Infect. 2009;58(5):375–82. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2009.02.014. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 50.United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. UNAIDS report on the global AIDS epidemic. Geneva. 2010 [updated 2010 November 23]. Available From: www.unaids.org/documents/20101123_PR_GlobalReport_ en.pdf.
  • 51.Kral AH, Malekinejad M, Vaudrey J, Martinez AN, Lorvick J, McFarland W, Raymond HF. Comparing respondent-driven sampling and targeted sampling methods of recruiting injection drug users in San Francisco. J Urban Health. 2010;87(5):839–50. doi: 10.1007/s11524-010-9486-9. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 52.Rahimi-Movaghar A, Razaghi EM, Sahimi-Izadian E, Amin-Esmaeili M. HIV, hepatitis C virus, and hepatitis B virus co-infections among injecting drug users in Tehran, Iran. Int J Infect Dis. 2010;14(1):e28–33. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2009.03.002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 53.Hernandez-Aguado I, Ramos-Rincon JM, Avinio M, Gonzalez-Aracil J, Perez-Hoyos S, de la Hera MG. Measures to reduce HIV infection have not been successful to reduce the prevalence of HCV in intravenous drug users. Eur J Epidemiol. 2001;17(6):539–44. doi: 10.1023/a:1014560431726. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 54.Center for Disease Management; Ministry of Health. Islamic Republic of Iran country report on monitoring of the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on HIV and AIDS, year 2009. Tehran. 2010 [updated 2010 February]. Available from http://www.unaids.org/en/dataanalysis/monitoring countryprogress/2010progressreportssubmittedbycountries/ iran_2010_country_progress_report_en.pdf.

Articles from Hepatitis Monthly are provided here courtesy of Brieflands

RESOURCES