Prevalence of infections, HIV risk behaviors and factors associated with HIV infection among male injecting drug users attending a needle/syringe exchange program in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Injecting drug users (IDU) in Bangladesh are at the early stages of an HIV epidemic. To understand the dynamics of the HIV epidemic, male IDU (n = 561) were recruited from the needle/syringe exchange program in Dhaka in 2002, who underwent a risk-behavior survey and were tested for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis C, and hepatitis B. Correlates of HIV infection were determined by conducting bivariate and multiple regression analyses. The median age of the IDU was 35 years, 39.6% had no formal education, approximately half were married and/or living with their regular sex partner and 26% were currently homeless. The median age at first injection was 29 years. HIV was detected in 5.9% of the IDU and homelessness was the only factor independently associated with HIV (OR = 5.5). Urgent measures must be undertaken to prevent escalation of the HIV epidemic. The study's limitations are noted.
Azim
Tasnim
T
HIV/AIDS Programme, Laboratory Sciences Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh. tasnim@icddrb.org
Chowdhury
Ezazul Islam
EI
Reza
Masud
M
Faruque
Mohammed Omar
MO
Ahmed
Giasuddin
G
Khan
Repon
R
Rahman
Motiur
M
Pervez
Mohammed Moshtaq
MM
Jana
Smarajit
S
Strathdee
Steffanie A
SA
D000328:Adult; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D015415:Biomarkers; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D018671:Needle-Exchange Programs; D012309:Risk-Taking; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous
D015415:Biomarkers