title: HIV, hepatitis B and sexual practices in the street-recruited injecting drug users of Calcutta: risk perception versus observed risks.
abstract: Injecting drug users (IDUs) were recruited from the streets of Calcutta to obtain a baseline biological and behavioural data on risk practices. One-fifth of them (mostly using buprenorphine) tested positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg); 4% were reactive to serologic test for syphilis (VDRL: Venereal Disease Research Laboratory). Condom use was insignificant while 74% reported sex with female sex workers and 15% of male IDUs also reported having sex with men. Although, sharing of injecting equipment ('works') was perceived as dangerous by the IDUs, majority of them (90/103) reportedly shared it; cleaning of works before sharing was a concern for intravenous but not for intramuscular drug injecting. Half of the IDUs reported suffering ever from abscess; a proportion (12%) of which had had superadded attack of maggots in it. They were also found to be infected with HIV (1%, 95% CI 0.028-5.97%) at a low prevalence that prompted subsequent launching of needle syringe exchange programme, establishment of cleaning norms before sharing of works, cleaning of injecting site on the body and condom promotion.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Calcutta, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Panda
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chatterjee
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhattacharjee
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Bhattacharya
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D020968:Brachial Plexus Neuritis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009198:Myiasis; D016485:Needle Sharing / Q000009:adverse effects; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D013287:Illicit Drugs