title: High prevalence of blood-borne virus infections and high-risk behaviour among injecting drug users in Tallinn, Estonia.
abstract: The HIV epidemic in Estonia is rapidly expanding, and injection drug users (IDUs) are the major risk group contributing to the expansion. A convenience sample of 159 IDUs visiting syringe-exchange programmes (SEPs) was selected to quantify the association of HIV-risk behaviours and blood-borne infections. A high prevalence of HIV, hepatitis B core antibody (HBVcore), hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) and hepatitis C virus antibodies (56, 85.1, 21.3, and 96.2%, respectively) was associated with high-risk injections, unsafe sexual behaviour and alcohol abuse. These findings emphasize the importance of evidence-based secondary prevention among the HIV-infected, especially given the uncertain sustainability of antiretroviral and substance abuse treatments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Tartu, Estonia. anneli.uuskula@ut.ee
authors.forename: Anneli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uusküla
authors.forename: Louise Anne
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: McNutt
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dehovitz
authors.forename: Krista
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Heimer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control; D004957:Estonia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018671:Needle-Exchange Programs; D015995:Prevalence; D012309:Risk-Taking; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires