title: Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections and associated risk factors among populations of drug abusers.
abstract: A cross-sectional survey was conducted of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and risky behaviors among 407 drug abusers in treatment facilities in 1998. Infections with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), and syphilis were detected by testing serum antibody levels; chlamydia and gonorrhea were detected by testing nucleic acid levels in urine. Logistic regression analysis was performed to measure associations. Prevalences of antibodies were as follows: to HSV-2, 44.4%; to HCV, 35.1%; to HBV, 29.5%; to HIV, 2.7%. The prevalence of syphilis was 3.4%; of chlamydia, 3.7%; and of gonorrhea, 1.7%. Of the 407 subjects, approximately 62% had markers for 1 of the STDs. HIV infection was associated with African American race, use of smokable freebase (crack) cocaine, and STD history. HBV infection was associated with age >30 years, injecting drugs, needle sharing, a history of treatment for drug abuse, and African American race. HCV infection was associated with an age >30 years, injecting drugs, and needle sharing, and HSV-2 infection with an age >30 years, female sex, and African American race. Syphilis was associated with a history of STDs. High prevalences of STDs among drug abusers indicate the need for integration of STD screening and treatment into drug treatment programs.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA. lhwang@utsph.sph.uth.tmc.edu
authors.forename: L Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zack
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bull
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rickman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holleman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000367:Age Factors; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications; D016578:Crack Cocaine; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D015497:HIV-1; D015498:HIV-2; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016485:Needle Sharing / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012737:Sex Factors; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D016578:Crack Cocaine