title: Factors Correlated With Hepatitis C and B Virus Infections Among Injecting Drug Users in Tehran, IR Iran.
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.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess factors correlated with HCV and HBV infections among IDUs in Tehran.
  
  
  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.
authors.affiliation: Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Masoumeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amin-Esmaeili
authors.forename: Afarin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rahimi-Movaghar
authors.forename: Emran M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Razaghi
authors.forename: Ahmad Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Baghestani
authors.forename: Siavash
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jafari